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    Ohio ends plan to collect old welfare overpayments

    AP – Fri, Nov 25, 2011

    COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio has decided to kill a much-derided plan to collect accidental welfare overpayments going back to at least 1985, a top official said Thursday.

    Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services Director Michael Colbert said the state is returning to its previous policy of collecting debts up to 10 years old. However, he said, the state would only go after overpayments resulting from fraud not from a mistake on the state's part.

    "It's not the time now to go back 20 years, unless it's a fraudulent situation," he said. "If it's not fraud, we don't need to go back to very vulnerable people who might be trying to make a transition. Logistically, it is very hard to track."

    The decision was made in late 2010 to extend the collection period for state welfare overpayments indefinitely to mirror a change made by the federal government.

    At the time, Colbert was the department's chief fiscal officer. But he said he was not consulted about the decision. He later was appointed head of the department when Gov. John Kasich took office.

    "We think it (the decision to collect old overpayments indefinitely) impacts a very vulnerable population, and my position is this population doesn't need this as public policy," Colbert said.

    The decision to extend the collection period was widely criticized by advocates for the poor. It mostly affected Ohioans making 70 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $400 a month.

    Colbert said his department realized the 2010 change was in effect when residents started calling his office about it. He said the department's automated system started sending letters three to four weeks ago. The change to extend the collection period was put into the computer in 2010, he said.

     
    • Joe
      Joe  •  Seattle, United States  •  6 mths ago
      When we stop giving welfare to the politicans in congress and the billionaires on wall street I will care about this nonsense.
      • Catnip
        Catnip 6 mths ago
        You mean to the people that got an education and then worked their way into the positions they have? Instead of the people sitting at home, refusing to work?
    • Chelley
      Chelley  •  East Palestine, United States  •  6 mths ago
      You know, not everyone that receives public assistance is a lazy slob. There are some out there that fall on hard times, have children to provide for, that can't find a decent job that will pay for daycare AND housing/food/clothing (the BARE necessities, bought from thrift and consignment stores), and have to choose between feeding her/his children, and oh...paying rent so they have somewhere to sleep. Some of those people might even be an old friend of yours, a family member, a veteran of the armed forces. You never know when YOU might fall on hard times and be in the SAME position. Maybe it is because a child gets sick and you lose your job because you are new and aren't supposed to take time off. Maybe it is because the child's other parent decides to walk out on them. OR, maybe it is because you get sick or injured and can't work for a time, and like most of America nowadays, don't have 3-6 months of emergency savings. Don't be so quick to judge someone when you have probably NEVER had to fight to just survive.

      ~~written by a single PARENTt, VETERAN of the USAF, that holds TWO bachelors degrees and SIX professional licenses....that has had the above happen to her.
    • L.K.N.
      L.K.N.  •  6 mths ago
      That is STUPID! So, they were going to try and collect monies after over, 25 years have past. Wow, can't get much more inefficient that that!
    • Knowledge is Power
      Knowledge is Power  •  Raleigh, United States  •  6 mths ago
      It will be VERY difficult to collect. Exhaled crack molecules from 25 years ago? That S, H, !, T is LONG gone.
    • jeffrey
      jeffrey  •  6 mths ago
      sounds like a losing proposition. how do you squeeze blood from a stone? maybe the government could repossess organs and sell them for transplant surgery. that would generate money for graft and corporate welfare. it would also alleviate social inequality by eliminating the poor. stealing tiny tim's crutch and then celebrating at a 10,000 dollar/plate influence peddling event is not how i want my government to act. i weep for the future.
      • MNBruce
        MNBruce 6 mths ago
        You are a typical entitled libturd #$%$
      • jeffrey
        jeffrey 6 mths ago
        my iq is 169 and i'm a theoretical physicist and mathematician. my family lived in poverty when i was a kid but i worked hard and improved my lot. i am currently seeking the primordial particle that seeded the universe with the goal of creating energy with exposed singulaities. i am also analyzing current number theory for a common factor in all numbers real and transcendental. how about you? i was also in an accident and had multiple strokes. i recovered, learned how to walk, talk and live. how about you. the weak minded resort to name calling. have a great day
    • MissLabeled
      MissLabeled  •  Dallas, United States  •  6 mths ago
      I have learned that adherence to statutes of limitations goes only one way with state governments. They shouldn't even be allowed to go back 10 years. The federal government is only allowed to go back three years for taxes, but they routine take advantage of other people's lack of knowledge to get more. They need to just let the whole thing go.
    • Lanie
      Lanie  •  Savannah, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Back in the 90's I was forced to go public assistance in Ohio, four months later I no longer needed it. I called and reported that I no longer needed it, they kept sending it to me, I would call again and inform them I did not need it, they sent it anyway. I kept calling, they kept sending. I eventually just gave up calling and use it.
      • D
        D 6 mths ago
        Don't blame you. I would have done the same.
      • Guest
        Guest 6 mths ago
        you forgot - you kept cashing the checks, theif
      • Swen
        Swen 6 mths ago
        Actually, it's his tax money coming back to him
    • techie4commonsense
      techie4commonsense  •  6 mths ago
      While illegal immigrants from Mexico are collecting welfare adn free medical/dental/HUD housing and education for free at taxpayers expense thanks to fake documents; encouraged by leftists and ACLU groups. If you are against illegal immigrants getting welfare the leftists groups say you are a racist even though these illegal immigrants are criminals for being here and more criminal by them collecting welfare by fraudulent means.
      • Contrary
        Contrary 6 mths ago
        They are hoping they will be a potential vote. Welfare only aids people in not having to make desperate decisions that are essential for human survival. Namely that being, to work hard and don't stop. Nope, let's help them sit on nice couches, watching big screen tv's, compliments of the tax payers. I have worked hard all my life, never expected a handout, and if it worked for me, it can work for them! Hard work and sweat is the answer to anything that ails you.
      • Swen
        Swen 6 mths ago
        Ah, the simple minds that think the world revolves around them and thus is the same for everyone else.
      • Winged Avenger
        Winged Avenger 6 mths ago
        Only a liar and a cheat would give you a thumbs down on that
    • Donald C
      Donald C  •  Syracuse, United States  •  6 mths ago
      We have the keystone cops running things. What a bunch of ideots.
    • Circe
      Circe  •  Fresno, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Okay, FRAUD- that makes sense. Go after that, those people deserve to be caught, fined and punished. But if some poor mom falls on hard times and your department erred and gave her an extra $13.50 per check and seven years later you're coming after her for $500 that she wasn't even aware that she owed, that's really unfair. Especially if she's pulled herself out of the system and is trying to make a life for herself and her family.
      I'm glad they saw the light and have a heart.
      Would cost more to go after the funds than they could ever recoup, anyway!
    • CommonCents
      CommonCents  •  6 mths ago
      "The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." Thomas Jefferson
    • EVÏLRÜMÔR
      EVÏLRÜMÔR  •  Tampa, United States  •  6 mths ago
      what you have here are uneducated people working in the system...they hire single mom's mostly black females...(lets be honest here), who has no education working for Welfare ..i'm sure they try to train people but like toll collecting and other meaningless jobs where they try to make it dummy proof but as you can see it's not. try paying a parking ticket look who is working there and you get a notice 3 weeks later you didnt pay when you have everything showing you paid....no difference here .
    • Contrary
      Contrary  •  Jackson, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Unfair? to go to someonw who was overpaid and expect them to have the integrity to say "oh goodness yes! I could help others by repaying back my overpayment!" Only in my perfect world! A repayment plan is okay too! See I'm not heartless after all.
    • Winged Avenger
      Winged Avenger  •  Largo, United States  •  6 mths ago
      The old stereotype of welfare recipients driving cadillacs is unfortunately too often true.
    • Catnip
      Catnip  •  Carteret, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Let's see, if my job (you know, the place I WORK for my money at) over-pays me, I have to pay it back, or my next paycheck is adjusted, even if it was someone else's fault. But lazy slobs that refuse to work can just get even more than they are "entitled" to and never have to do a thing?
    • Contrary
      Contrary  •  Jackson, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Oh I see, if a person is overpaid AND they are poor, they shouldn't have to pay it back? BULLS....
    • Brown
      Brown  •  6 mths ago
      Terminate those discriminatory Ohio anti gay amendments too. By doing so, millions could be poured into the Ohio economy rather than going to New York.
    • Brown
      Brown  •  6 mths ago
      Repeal those Ohio economy killing anti gay amendments. Stop sending millions to New York.
    • Brown
      Brown  •  6 mths ago
      End the Ohio anti gay amendments that are killing tourism and economic stimulation.
    • Brown
      Brown  •  6 mths ago
      End the Ohio anti gay amendments too! They are worthless and counter productive.
     Post a comment
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