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Commissioner Park explains challenges with benefit recertifications
1:58:33
ยท
66 sec
Commissioner Park discusses the challenges faced by DSS in processing benefit recertifications due to COVID-related extensions. She explains the impact on processing times and the department's approach to managing these challenges.
- COVID-19 led to four-month extensions on recertifications, resulting in uneven processing workloads throughout the year
- DSS anticipates fluctuations in processing times, with strong performance during parts of the year and more challenges in others
- The department is exploring ways to smooth out the recertification process
- Despite challenges, DSS aims to continue providing benefits responsibly, with delays typically measured in days rather than months
Molly Wasow Park
1:58:33
I think we're on that track.
1:58:38
It's going to vary over time.
1:58:40
One of the things that happened during COVID was that there were a number of instances where people were granted essentially four month extensions on their recertification, which means that we now have a lot of recertifications due in a short period of time as opposed to even recertification numbers throughout the year.
1:59:03
While we are exploring whether or not we can smooth that out for the time being we have very uneven processing so what I anticipate and administrative French should chime in but is that we will have very strong processing numbers or timeliness rates for part of the year and that it will be a little bit more challenging during other parts of the year but that we are continuing to get benefits into the hands of people in a way that is responsible and even when things aren't timely it is slipping by a matter of days not months.
Diana Ayala
1:59:38
Thank you.