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Anson County DSS reports rising caseloads, funding gaps and possible state policy changes
Summary
Anson County Department of Social Services reported high caseloads across SNAP, Medicaid and child-protective services, warned the county lacks heating-assistance funds for the coming winter, and said proposed state changes to Medicaid and SNAP could cut benefits and administrative reimbursement.
Anson County's Department of Social Services briefed commissioners on program caseloads, staffing and looming state policy changes that the department said could reduce benefits and administrative funding.
Director Lula Jackson said the department currently serves 5,852 SNAP cases, representing about $990,000 in monthly food and nutrition benefits. The county's total Medicaid caseload was reported as 8,115 cases; family-workforce cash assistance had 33 active cases; and adult special-assistance covered 73 cases (noted as $29,849 in benefits). Jackson said subsidized childcare currently serves about 300 children monthly and maintains a waiting list of 119.
Jackson told the board the department is operating with staff shortages in key units (for example the food and nutrition unit was operating at about 50% staffing at one point) and that recent increases in child-protective referrals had pushed investigators above state standards. She said the county currently has 36 children in foster care and is running foster-home licensing classes to add capacity.
Jackson also warned of pending state-level changes (which she referenced as "House resolution number 1/the big beautiful bill") that could impose a work requirement for some Medicaid recipients, require six-month Medicaid recertifications for expansion populations, reduce administrative reimbursement for SNAP from 50% to 25%, and narrow some eligibility exemptions. The department said those changes would have financial and operational impacts locally.
Jackson closed by noting ongoing transitions to state electronic systems (PATH/NC and OASIS), the need for updated equipment and staff training, and the department's continuing interest in a new DSS building, additional vehicles and more staff to handle increased workloads.
Why it matters: The reported caseload levels and lack of heating-assistance funds underscore potential shortfalls for vulnerable residents as winter approaches. Proposed state policy changes could reduce benefits and decrease the county's reimbursement for administrative work, increasing pressure on local budgets and service delivery.
