The State House, June 18, unanimously passed legislation that would require the Department of Public Welfare and the Department of Community and Economic Development to verify income eligibility of those seeking aid from the state’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Weatherization Assistance Program to ensure program dollars are directed to those truly in need, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).
The bill also contains whistleblower protections.
House Bill 1991 now goes to the state Senate.
House Bill 1991 was introduced in response to an audit conducted by Auditor General Jack Wagner in 2007 that revealed nearly 550 recipients using the Social Security numbers of deceased individuals to obtain benefits, Cox said. The report also caught several Philadelphia public employees stealing $500 million from LIHEAP.
“House Bill 1991 now goes to the state Senate.”
Hah! Goes to who in the State Senate? Where it will quickly deposited in the cirucular file.