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Scotland Neck senior center director urges county to investigate LIHEAP denials and missed home-delivered meals
Summary
A senior-center director told commissioners that many local seniors who received Low Income Energy Assistance in prior years were denied this season; the county manager said she will ask the Department of Social Services director to investigate and meet with affected seniors.
Hattie Staten, director of the Hannon Senior Center in Scotland Neck, told the Halifax County Board of Commissioners that numerous local older adults who received low-income energy assistance in prior years were denied during the current intake cycle, and she said staff at her center and callers have not received timely responses from Department of Social Services caseworkers.
Staten said she has represented 80 to 100 seniors for 16 years and that this year many of those clients who previously received assistance were denied. She said some callers reported approved food-stamp benefits but denial of energy assistance and that, in at least one case, an electric utility poised to disconnect service for an out-of-town client.
County Manager (staff reference) said she would ask the DSS director to follow up with Staten and the center and try to arrange a meeting to explain the denials and the changes to eligibility or procedures. The manager described the follow-up as a staff action rather than a board promise to change policy immediately.
Staten also reported disruptions in the home-delivered meals program caused by school two-hour delays and winter weather; the county manager noted the concern and directed staff to coordinate with the center where possible.
