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Income Maintenance Casework Position Requests The chart below represents the cases active each December from 2000 through 2008. The staff budgeted to manage these cases and the average caseload is also shown for 2002 through 2010. Annual growth in cases 15% 20% 2096 8% 12% 3% 7% 11% 12% 9.21' Unemployment rate 3.6% 5.8% 5.3% 8.1% 4.7% 4.0% 3.8% 4.4% 8.5% 11.7% • Projected in June 2010 prior to increase in FNS program eligibility summary • Cases in Economic Services (Medicaid and Food Stamps) have grown an average of 12% annually since 2000. While caseloads have grown annually every year since 2000, there is a connection with growth and higher unemployment rates (in years where unemployment is above 8 %, the average growth in caseloads is 14 %). • Expanded eligibility was added on July 1, 2010, for the Food and Nutrition Program. This expansion is predicted to bring anywhere from a 20 % -60% increase in caseloads over the next two years. The expansion is effective indefinitely. • With the increase in demand for service, the department is responding to greater volumes of clients and cases. Persons coming for the first time have the right to be seen that day and make an application under federal rules. Wait times for clients have increased dramatically over the past year and are anticipated to increase further with increased eligibility rules. • Medicaid will have expanded eligibility under Health Care Reform beginning in 2014. Conclusions • The addition of the requested four (4) income maintenance caseworkers are needed due to overall increased caseloads, expanded eligibility, and customer service concerns. • County Liability is increased with expanded caseloads due to potential cost of errors in determining benefits. Caseloads at levels of 600 and greater are more difficult to manage for a staff person with total accuracy and efficiency. While no set standards in policy exist, acceptable practice for manageable caseloads are 400 for Food Stamps and 350 for Medicaid. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Art number 1 F -5 Dec -00 I Dec-01 Dec -02 Dec -03 Dec-04 Dec-05 Dec -06 Dec-07 Dec -08 Dec -09 Jul -10 Total Cases (Medicaid and Food Stamps) 10,929 12,561 15,055 16,103 19,482 21,751 22,413 24,038 26,728 30274 31934 Income Maintenance Staff w/ caseloads 33.75 35.75 39 40 43.25 43.25 48.75 52.75 53.25 Average caseload per Worker 446 506 500 544 518 556 548 579 600 Annual growth in cases 15% 20% 2096 8% 12% 3% 7% 11% 12% 9.21' Unemployment rate 3.6% 5.8% 5.3% 8.1% 4.7% 4.0% 3.8% 4.4% 8.5% 11.7% • Projected in June 2010 prior to increase in FNS program eligibility summary • Cases in Economic Services (Medicaid and Food Stamps) have grown an average of 12% annually since 2000. While caseloads have grown annually every year since 2000, there is a connection with growth and higher unemployment rates (in years where unemployment is above 8 %, the average growth in caseloads is 14 %). • Expanded eligibility was added on July 1, 2010, for the Food and Nutrition Program. This expansion is predicted to bring anywhere from a 20 % -60% increase in caseloads over the next two years. The expansion is effective indefinitely. • With the increase in demand for service, the department is responding to greater volumes of clients and cases. Persons coming for the first time have the right to be seen that day and make an application under federal rules. Wait times for clients have increased dramatically over the past year and are anticipated to increase further with increased eligibility rules. • Medicaid will have expanded eligibility under Health Care Reform beginning in 2014. Conclusions • The addition of the requested four (4) income maintenance caseworkers are needed due to overall increased caseloads, expanded eligibility, and customer service concerns. • County Liability is increased with expanded caseloads due to potential cost of errors in determining benefits. Caseloads at levels of 600 and greater are more difficult to manage for a staff person with total accuracy and efficiency. While no set standards in policy exist, acceptable practice for manageable caseloads are 400 for Food Stamps and 350 for Medicaid. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Art number 1 F -5