The Department of Social Services has several units that provide administrative, fiscal and support services to the Agency. 

Accounting

The Accounting Unit consists of several units: Administrative Accounting, Public Assistance Accounting, and Child Welfare Accounting.

  • Administrative Accounting staff are responsible for the preparation of the Department budget, as well as monitoring expenditures and ensuring proper reimbursement from Federal and State sources.  Other responsibilities include auditing and paying administrative vouchers, accounts receivable, cash receipts, trust accounts, bank deposits and bank reconciliations. 
  • Public Assistance Accounting staff are responsible for processing all benefit payments for Family Assistance, Safety Net, Emergency Assistance for Adults, and Emergency Assistance for Families, as well as Food Stamps and HEAP.
  • The primary function of Child Welfare Accounting staff includes the processing of payments for the following: Child Care, Foster Care, Children's Services and Adult Protective Services. 

Commissioner's Office

The Commissioner's Office is responsible for directing all phases of social services programs, including planning, organizing and implementing public assistance and service delivery programs in accordance with Federal and State laws and regulations and local policies. 

The Commissioner of Social Services manages over 50 programs and 400 supervisory, technical, professional, and non-professional employees, and directs and coordinates the work of the Agency for efficient and effective operation.  Responsibilities include directing the Agency's financial planning, preparation of budgets, maintenance of fiscal controls and submission of required reports; determining personnel requirements and making appropriate appointments of staff; public and community relations, and the interpretation of social services programs to meet the needs of the community. 

Under the auspices of public and community relations, the Commissioner's Office publishes an Annual Report and press releases as needed to keep the public informed about relevant topics. 

Management Information Systems

Welfare Management System (WMS) is a statewide computerized data system that receives, maintains, and processes information for the management and control of social service programs. It is a repository for information on all persons who apply for, or who are eligible to receive, Temporary Assistance, Medicaid, Food Stamps, and/or supportive services. WMS coordinates support of the local area network used by the Department of Social Services as part of the State's network and provides technical and analytical support to staff for all of the components of the WMS system.   

Medicaid Management Information (MMIS) is a statewide centralized computer system designed to improve administrative controls on rising Medicaid costs and improve availability of health care services through more efficient claims processing. WMS/MMIS staff monitors the flow of Medicaid eligibility information from WMS to MMIS.

Personnel

The Personnel Office is responsible for processing all personnel and payroll transactions for the department. The Office coordinates and maintains personnel records of the current salary, title, and status of each employee. Personnel Office staff also advise employees on a variety of matters including contract interpretation and benefits and disseminates information on health insurance, retirement, and workers' compensation. Existing personnel policies and procedures are reviewed and updated as appropriate. Personnel office staff analyze existing job descriptions and make recommendations for revision.

* Note to Job Applicants:

In accordance with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Security Guidelines for Federal, State and Local Agencies (IRS Publication 1075; Section 5.1.1), employees with access to Federal Tax Information (FTI) must complete a background check which is favorably adjudicated. The background check will include FBI fingerprinting; a check of local law enforcement agencies where the applicant has lived, worked and/or attended school within the last 5 years; and if applicable, of the appropriate agency for any identified results and verification of citizenship/residency. Applicants will be required to pay a fingerprinting processing fee.

View the full text of the Social Service Policy on Employee Background Checks and Fingerprinting Requirements

Staff Development

Staff Development is responsible for providing professional/self-development opportunities and resources that meet the evolving needs of all employees. The Staff Development team works diligently to deliver trainings, disseminate information, arrange seminars, track training history and ensure access to statewide networks and resources for all staff.

Compliance Services

 
The Compliance Services Unit consists of several units: Audit, Resource Recovery and Special Investigations.

Compliance Services oversees the operations and functions of Units which enforce Federal, State, and local laws, rules and regulations and procedures regarding assistance payments made through the Department, except child support. The enforcement Units under the direction of this office are Special Investigations and Resource Recovery.

Report Fraud: 845-364-3200
Email:

Audit Unit

The Audit Unit performs internal audits to improve overall department operations. 

Special Investigations Unit (SIU)

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is comprised of the Fraud Section and the Front End Detection System (FEDS) Section.

The Fraud Section investigates complaints regarding possible welfare abuse. Cases in which fraud have been clearly established are referred to the District Attorney's office for possible criminal prosecution. This may involve charges of unlawfully obtaining Temporary Assistance or grand larceny and usually results in, at a minimum, recoupment of assistance incorrectly paid. In other cases, the Fraud Unit attempts to recover all overpayments of assistance made to customers. Recovery may be made by reducing Temporary Assistance grants or by individual agreement to repay the agency directly.

The FEDS system detects possible fraud or ineligibility at the application stage to prevent the initial payment of improper benefits by the Department.

If you suspect fraud is taking place, please visit our Fraud page for information on how to report it.

 Resource Recovery Unit

The Resource Recovery Unit assures that any non-exempt income or assets of a customer are utilized to reduce the need for assistance. Recoupment is made from recipients when assets or resources are later uncovered, i.e. stocks, bonds, bank accounts, real property, lawsuits and estates or other claims. The Unit also files liens, judgments, assignments, estate claims and mortgages in appropriate cases to preserve the rights of the Department.

The Cash Management System (CAMS) coordinates and oversees all aspects of over payment and advance payment collections for all programs, including Temporary Assistance, Food Stamps, Child Care Assistance and Medicaid. The CAMS Unit is responsible for following up on all repayment agreements, establishing contact with non-paying consumers, coming to a mutually acceptable repayment arrangement, and as a last resort, referring matters for civil litigation when deemed necessary.