Short-staffed DSS will allow some workers to come in on Saturdays

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 March 2024 at 10:41 am

Social welfare examiners need extra time to get caught up

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has authorized the Department of Social Services to allow some workers to come in on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The office won’t be open to the public on Saturday, but the four hours will allow the short-staffed DSS more time to process often time-consuming applications, said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer.

The county currently has several vacancies among the social welfare examiners who process cash assistance and temporary housing cases. That has made it difficult to keep up with work during regular office hours.

These workers determine eligibility for cash assistance, temporary housing and other benefits. The temporary housing applications have seen a big increase with the rise in the homeless population, said Holli Nenni, the DSS commissioner.

The social welfare examiners are highly-skilled and knowledge-based, and determining the eligibility often is time-consuming with many referrals, she said.

The examiners check very stringent eligibility standards, Nenni said. The potential recipients are screened for drug use and a domestic violence history. The staff check employment. If the applicants aren’t working, the staff need medical information on why the applicants may be unable to work. There could be other factors why an applicant can’t work, too, requiring further assessment.

DSS has to meet deadlines from the state on how quickly cases can be determined, Nenni said.

“This is only temporary until we get caught up,” she said about the Saturday hours.

The current social welfare examiners won’t be mandated to work on Saturdays. The regular work weeks are 37.5 hours. They will get their regular hourly rate for 2.5 hours and then overtime for hours beyond 40 in a week.

Nenni said she appreciates the staff willing to come in for the four hours on Saturdays.

“It says a lot to their dedication to their clients and their job,” she said.