Crisis Intervention Program 2016

Public Service Announcement

The Crisis Intervention Program known as CIP will be administered by Macon County DSS.  Applications will begin on Tuesday, November 1st beginning at 8:00 am.  You must be in a LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY/CRISIS.

 

Applications will be taken for households needing assistance for their immediate heating needs and to alleviate their heating crisis.  Eligible households must meet all criteria for heating assistance which includes; income limits which is less than 150% of the federal poverty levels.  The target population is at least someone in the household is 60 or older, or be approved disabled, or have a household with a child five (5) years of age or under AND be in a life threatening emergency.   Also there must be one US Citizen in the household and a resident of Macon County. 

 The Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) will provide payment to the vendors for eligible households.  Also, required to be eligible, you must have 10% or less LP gas, 15 inches or less of Fuel Oil/Kerosene or a Disconnect Notice from Duke or Haywood Electric Company or natural gas provider.   If you have a disconnect notice you must bring the notice with you at time of application.   Those that use wood as a heat source must have less than 1 cord of wood.

The Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) is to resolve the immediate life threatening crisis.  Only minimum deliveries of 100 lbs. of propane, 100 gallons of fuel oil/kerosene, or 1 cord of wood or a disconnect notice with the minimum amount to resolve the crisis will be approved. 

For more information, please contact Macon County DSS at 828-349-2124.  Application will be taken Monday – Friday from 8am – 4 pm as long as funds are available at Macon County DSS located at 1832 Lakeside Drive, Franklin NC. 

For all other households the CIP program opens up December 1^st and must meet the stated guidelines.

gtaylor & pbentacourt

Live Online Family Caregiving Event to Feature Tennessee Author Peter Rosenberger

Live Online Family Caregiving Event to Feature Tennessee Author Peter Rosenberger

 

Franklin, North Carolina — AARP today announced it will broadcast a live online family caregiving event from Nashville featuring author and speaker Peter Rosenberger.

Rosenberger, founder of Caregivers With Hope, will be featured in a free interactive webinar titled “Unstuck: Lightening the Heart of the Family Caregiver with Humor,” Thursday, August 25^th. You can register to watch the online event at: https://aarp.cvent.com/caregiverncfranklin or call 828-380-6242.

A live simulcast of the event will be held at The Crawford Senior Center, 108 Wayah Street, Franklin, NC 28734 @ 7:00 pm.  Light refreshments to be served.

 Participants will learn how to lighten their heart, rediscover their identity and find a safe emotional path – with a healthy dose of Peter’s outrageous humor and candor.

“After more than 30 years on the path as a family caregiver for my wife Gracie – including 78 operations, the amputation of both her legs, 60 doctors in 12 hospitals and $9 million medical bills – I’ve learned: it’s okay to laugh,” Rosenberg said.

 

AARP has announced it will give everyone who registers for the webinar will receive an electronic copy of Peter’s book, “Seven Landmines for Caregivers & How You Can Avoid Them.”  Those who attend an in-person watch party will have the chance to win a copy of Peter’s book.

 

The webinar, which is part of AARP’s nationwide educational series on family caregiving, will be open to participants nationwide and a simulcast at local sites around the country.

 “Humor is a healthy express of a healthy heart – not a defense mechanism,” said Rosenberger, founding of Caregivers with Hope. “I’ve learned that family caregivers cannot only survive, but thrive in the midst of oftentimes grim circumstances. “

 

To register for “Unstuck: Lightening the Heart of the Family Caregiver with Humor” featuring Peter Rosenberger, visit: https://aarp.cvent.com/caregiverncfranklin.

 

ABOUT AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security and personal fulfillment. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name.  As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation magazine, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @aarp and our CEO @JoAnn_Jenkins on Twitter.

 

gtaylor Macon County DSS PIO

Federal Funds Awarded

MACON COUNTY HAS BEEN AWARDED FEDERAL FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS)/FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY UNDER THE EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER NATIONAL BOARD PROGRAM

Macon County has been chosen to receive $14,867.00 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county. The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Jewish Federations of North America, The Salvation Army; and, United Way Worldwide. The Board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.

 

A Local Board will determine how the funds awarded to Macon County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area. The Local Board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds made available under this phase of the program.

Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, 2) be eligible to receive Federal funds, 3) have an accounting system,4) practice nondiscrimination, 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.

 

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds can pick up an application at Macon County Dept. of Social Services. The deadline for applications to be received is 5:00 pm on August 8, 2016. 

 

Gwen Taylor, Macon County DSS PIO

 

Crisis Funding

MACON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

1832 LAKESIDE DRIVE

FRANKLIN, NC 28734

(828) 349-2124

 

LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP)

 

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) provides for a one-time payment to heating vendors to help income eligible households pay their heating bills. Priority is given to low-income households with a family member 60 years and older or families in which a member is a disabled adult receiving services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services.

 Starting December 1^st income eligible households must have EITHER:

·       an elderly person age 60 or over living in the home; OR

·       a disabled person receiving services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS)

 

 Starting January 1^st (if LIHEAP funds are still available) applications will be accepted for all low-income individuals and families.
 

 

 

CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM (CIP)

 

The Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) provides assistance for heating low-income households that are in immediate and life-threating crisis. If assistance is approved, the crisis must be able to be alleviated. Households may be eligible to receive assistance more than once until their yearly cap is reached.  Heating assistance includes: electricity, wood, fuel oil, kerosene, or LP gas only.

Other criteria include but are not limited to:

·       one member of the household must be a US Citizen; AND

·       you must have 10% or less LP gas in your tank; OR

·       15 inches or less of fuel oil  or Kerosene; OR

·       less than 1 cord of wood (stacked 4 feet high x 8 feet long x 4 feet deep); OR

·       a disconnect notice from Duke Energy or Haywood Electric Company. 

  

Applications taken Monday- Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Macon County Department of Social Services

1832 Lakeside Dr. Franklin, NC

 

no appointments will be made for LIHEAP or CIP

 

Gwen Taylor Public Information Officer 11/9/2015

DSS: Cracking down on fraud

Archive Search Result
 

DSS: Cracking down on fraud

Ryan Hanchett reporter@thefranklinpress.com    PUBLICATION: Franklin Press, The (NC)

SECTION: News

DATE: July 18, 2014

Page: 1A

The Macon County Department of Social Services is in the process of cracking down on fraud. The Integrity Initiative is an amplified attempt to identify citizens who are inappropriately taking advantage of food and nutrition services.
Income maintenance investigator Chrissy Wallace will be leading the charge on fraud prevention along with DSS attorney Micheal Butler.
"Food stamps are a scarce resource and we need to make sure that the people who should receive those benefits can do so," Butler said. "I have the utmost confidence that she (Wallace) will find those people who have been, either knowingly or unknowingly, defrauding the system and ultimately we will be able to better serve the people who truly need the program." Macon County DSS had a fulltime fraud investigator until six years ago when funding cuts at the state level resulted in the position becoming part-time. During the 2014-15 budget process, Macon County DSS Director Jane Kimsey was able to find money to fill the position again.
"We were able to secure additional federal funding and make it work where Chrissy can spend her time solely on fraud prevention," Kimsey said. "Obviously, this Integrity Initiative is one that we are taking very seriously."
The program will begin by identifying people who are receiving food and nutrition assistance despite not meeting the requirements. Once those offenders are identified there are several recourse options for DSS to pursue.
"The most egregious offenders could face prosecution for fraud," Butler said. "Those who have made inadvertent errors on their applications or made a one-time error may face repayment of benefits used. If those benefits are not repaid, the county will utilize collection procedures and garnish future tax refunds, future benefits, or even lottery winnings."
Another option available to the department is an administrative disqualification hearing, which could potentially lead to suspension of benefits and a payment plan to repay any money received in food stamps inappropriately.
Addressing fraud in the food and nutrition services area of DSS is just the beginning. Wallace will eventually move on to Medicaid, energy assistance, transportation and child care subsidy fraud as well.
"Basically, if a person knows that they have been doing something wrong regarding their benefits they should come in and get it straightened out immediately," Butler said. "It is better to get ahead of it and pay it back willingly than it is to wait until it leads to withholding funds or criminal prosecution."
In 2013, a total of 3, 043 households used food and nutrition services in Macon County.
The total amount of benefits paid out through the program was $8, 834, 221. That money comes 100 percent from the federal government. The state and county split the administrative costs associated with the Department of Social Services equally.
"Having a fulltime employee to monitor the database will allow us to better identify any fraud that is taking place within the department," Kimsey said.
"There will not be any way to give one set of information when applying for Medicaid and a different set of information when applying for food and nutrition assistance or receiving social work services. Everything is going to be streamlined under one database that the investigator will have access to."
Anyone who has information regarding food and nutrition assistance fraud is encouraged to call Macon County Department of Social Services at (828) 349-2124.
Submitted to blogg:  By Gwen Taylor, PIO

   

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Macon County DSS will accept applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program known as LIHEAP, beginning Friday, January 2, 2015 for individuals and families with the lowest income.  All eligibility requirements must be met which includes income & asset guidelines. 

LIHEAP provides a one-time annual vendor payment to help households that are eligible with their heating expense. All households determined eligible for LIHEAP must provide the agency with the name of the vendor they would like payment remitted to.  All electric utility customers seeking assistance with their utilities bill must bring a copy of the bill for accurate account information.  You also must provide verification of  income.

Applications will be taken at Macon County Department of Social Services from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and will continue through March 31^st or until LIHEAP funds are expended.

For more information, please contact Macon County DSS at 828-349-2124.

 

Gwen S. Taylor, PIO

 

 

LIHEAP

MACON COUNTY DSS

LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE (LIHEAP)

 

Macon County DSS will accept applications for the  Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program known as LIHEAP on Monday, December 1, 2014.  LIHEAP provides a one-time annual vendor payment to help eligible with their heating expense.

 

December 1st – December 31st:

 

To be eligible a household must have either:

·       An elderly person ages 60 and above OR;

·       A disabled person receiving services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS)

·       In addition income guidelines must also be met.

 

January 1^st – March 31^st if LIHEAP funds are still available:

 

·       Applications will be accepted for all low income individuals and families.

 

CIP Program

 

In addition On December 1^st the CIP program will be excepting applications for households needing assistance for their immediate heating needs and to alleviate their heating crisis.  Eligible households must meet criteria for heating assistance, which includes;  income limit which is less than 150%  of the federal poverty levels.   Also there must be one US Citizen in the household and a resident of Macon County.

 

The Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) will provide payment to the vendors for eligible households.  Also, required to be eligible households, you must have 10% or less LP gas, 15 inches or less of Fuel Oil/Kerosene or a Disconnect Notice from Duke or Haywood Electric Company.  Those that use wood as a heat source must have less than 1 cord of wood.

 

The Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) is to resolve the immediate  life threatening crisis, only minimum deliveries of 100 lbs. of propane, 100 gallons of fuel oil/kerosene, or 1 cord of wood will be approved. 

 

No appointments will be made for LIHEAP or CIP.

 

For more information, please contact Macon County DSS 828-349-2124.

Applications will be taken at Macon County DSS

located at 1832 Lakeside Drive, Franklin NC

 Monday – Friday from 8 am – 4 pm as long as funds are available.

By Gwen Taylor, PIO