(The Center Square) − For the 13th consecutive year, Louisiana’s Department of Children and Family Services has failed to ensure that work activity records for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients are accurate and properly maintained, according to a new audit from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office.
Under federal law, TANF recipients who are deemed work eligible must participate in employment or job training activities as a condition of receiving cash assistance. Job training required under TANF typically includes programs that help recipients develop skills necessary for employment and to become self-sufficient.
States are required to track and verify these work participation hours through documentation in accordance with their federally approved Work Verification Plan.
The audit revealed that in a sample of 60 work activity records, eight (13%) did not align with supporting documentation or lacked the required verification altogether.
Federal regulations mandate that states verify and document TANF recipients’ work participation hours in accordance with their Work Verification Plan. Failure to do so could result in federal penalties against the state.
DCFS management acknowledged the findings and outlined a corrective action plan that includes targeted training for staff responsible for tracking work hours. The department plans to provide personalized coaching for new hires and refresher training for existing staff to improve compliance with documentation requirements.
DCFS continues to receive a $163.43 million annual federal TANF block grant. A significant portion of these funds — $72.17 million — is dedicated to core welfare services such as the Strategies to Empower People program, which provides job training and workforce development for TANF recipients.
DCFS management has concurred with the audit’s findings and pledged to strengthen internal controls. However, with repeated deficiencies spanning over a decade, concerns persist over the agency’s ability to enforce accountability and meet federal compliance standards.
