Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Lead times

As as been discussed by me, as well as those who have left comments- leadtimes have gotten way out of hand.

For those not 'in the know' who may happen upon this site- "Lead time" is the time from an application file date to the date the client is finally scheduled for an interview. Historically, Food Stamp applications HAD TO BE SCHEDULED WITHIN 20 DAYS. This left 10 days for the client to provide any other information (they must be given 10 days)- and still have the case completed by the Federally Mandated timeframe expectation of 30 days.

If offices are understaffed and there aren't enough "appointment slots" to fill in applications within 20 days- anytime after that puts the application at risk of being delinquent no matter what. What people 'on the outside' don't understand is if the State of Texas is delinquent on TOO MANY applications for Food Stamps- the FNS (Food and Nutrition Services) has the liberty to SANCTION the State for not meeting the Federal Requirements.

Should this happen- in light of the fact that FNS is refusing to fund the program in Texas due to the rush to go into this 'system' before FNS even approved of it...this could potentially cost Texas even more - in the Millions- money that comes from the State taxpayer coffers.

Many local offices- STATEWIDE- have lost so many people that the applications are snowballing. Those who see this from the other side think that this problem is only contained in Travis and Hayes counties- but it is not. Anytime you have employees get an email telling them that they will not have a position in the 'new system' they are going to jump ship. The only folks that have stayed around even though they don't have a position are those trying to 'stick it out' and those who feel like they have no choice.

The clients are suffering. The local offices are suffering. Those in 'charge' see us, in the local offices, getting the work done "somehow" and think it's o.k. Those in 'charge' have the luxury of issuing directives to 'get the job done'. Yet, they are unaware that just like you can't get blood out of a turnip- you can't take an office that used to see upwards of 250 appointments per day with 25 workers do those same appointments with 10. It is NOT POSSIBLE. And yet, this is what is expected.

Workers are being burned out. The workers that are being burned out, unfortunately, are the tenured people the most. We carry most of the burden. Are we really the ones the State can afford to lose?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi,
well I'm from reg. 11, by the border. As of today 06/28/06, our lead time is 07/27/06. Last week we actually went 30+2, but today it's at 29 days. It probably went over because of the staff meetings. A lot of us work 10 - 11 hours Monday - Friday and wkd the 8 hrs Saturdays. Our PM stated that she does not want the office open on 07/04/06. as she want everybody to relax and not think about work.

Anonymous said...

my office no longer schedules staff meetings, as there is a greater need for those appointment slots than sharing information and allowing a small amount of "down" time.

Anonymous said...

WE NEED "DOWN" TIME
We haven't had a staff meeting in years. When policy changes come, the supervisor comes to you and goes over it as she can to make sure we have read it. We've been doing it like that for years. The lead time thing is a problem though. Do you guys still get a full work day?

Anonymous said...

A full work day? That is the best laugh I have heard in years. In Region 07, if that is happening anywhere I would be surprised. Not in any of the offices that I know of...

Anonymous said...

How do you guys work 10-11 hours per day and 8 on Saturday. I am barely doing my 8-5 M-F!!

Anonymous said...

Well working long hours has been accepted in my office but every minute of the day is counted as a possible appointment slot - all delinquencies due to lead time have been denied. I guess this is a way to save the State money- keep staff from getting those "Well Deserved" bonuses.

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean - staff is handling triple or more apps - leaves no time to work the cases all time is interview interview interview interview and then have to explain in detail -why you got to stay over 8-5 to get your work done.

Anonymous said...

It is not possible to work more than 40 hours per week in this state, Kansas, irrespective of how many applications or reviews one has. If you don't get it done in your 40 hour work week, you're in the cross hairs of those who make the big money and give themselves all pats on the back annual pay hikes.

Kansas is in a "high performance" environment. People sink or swim and more and more are sinking. Case assignment is in constant flux as people quit or are released. There is no union to speak of in Kansas given this is a right to work state. Training? New staff have a "performance improvement" staff member "sit" with them for a bit of time, and then the case load is turned over to the new hire. I don't know about Texas, but in Kansas it takes upwards of two years to know what you're sort of doing. Kansas is essentially "generic" in that staff process TANF, FS, childcare, healthcare, work programs. Staff do the intake and work the case from that point forward

It is impossible to use annual leave because if one does, the toll of backed up work negates the vacation: It's there waiting for you when you get back...nobody is assigned diddly boo except the most "urgent" of matters (read that as a "consumer" who has screamed the most....). It's gotten so bad that staff actually have to lose vacation time at the close of the state's fiscal year given they've accumulated all the state will allow.

One upper management practice has been to have case application dates changed in the computer data base to avoid untimely processing stats to be worse than they already are. The USDA regional office has been noticed about the practice and thus far they've essentially shrugged their shoulders and said "They've said they won't do that anymore...". The embraced practice and documentation of same has just today been forwarded to USDA FNS staff in Washington. Think they'll care anymore than Kansas' regional office?

hhscsurvivalist said...

Changing the file date of an application is considered a "fraudulent action" by HHSC. Our staff have been told they will be terminate for this. Any workers who are advised to change the file date should document the name of the person in the higher position who told them to do this. If I am ever told to do something to a case that is not legal, I will most definitely document who my instructions came from. If I go down, they will go down with me!

Anonymous said...

I guess I dont' understand the concept of changing file date for timeliness reasons. Take it as it is. If it's delinquent, it's delinquent.
If it sounds like a duck, walks like a duck...it probably is a duck. Right?

Anonymous said...

Right now I would prefer "ducks" to my stack of 1010's.