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DSS presents May report and warns of upcoming Medicaid eligibility changes under H.R.1
Summary
DSS Director Dwella Hall briefed commissioners on May activity across child welfare, adult services, Food & Nutrition, and energy assistance; staff outlined Medicaid eligibility and administrative changes tied to H.R.1 and projected local SNAP administrative cost exposure.
DSS Director Dwella M. Hall delivered a comprehensive May 2026 departmental update at the June 29 Board meeting covering caseloads, staffing changes, program operations and state- and federal-policy impacts.
Hall highlighted several operational figures: Child Support collections totaled $473,605 for May; the CPS Intake unit screened 55 reports and accepted 33; Foster Care listed 55 children in care as of May 31; and Food & Nutrition processed 309 approved and 125 denied applications in May. Hall reported energy-assistance activity and program performance, noting Columbus County processed 4,414 energy-related applications in the 2025–2026 season and maintained a 20-day processing target for Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) and LIEAP cases.
On policy changes, the presentation flagged Medicaid expansion-related requirements effective Jan. 1, 2027 (work/participation expectations and more frequent redeterminations) and summarized H.R.1 (identified in the packet as impacting noncitizen eligibility) set to take effect Oct. 1, 2026; DSS said 51 county beneficiaries were flagged for manual review related to immigration status and that outreach notices had been drafted. The packet warned of a potential local fiscal impact tied to SNAP administration changes (a projected county exposure of roughly $312,429 for administrative costs starting October 2026) and described steps the department is taking to train staff and document processes following a recent audit.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about program eligibility, the Salvation Army's role in emergency rent assistance, and staffing impacts; Director Hall and other DSS managers described cross-unit backup plans, hiring and training efforts, and an internal corrective-action plan to address audit findings. The Board adopted the accompanying proclamation and accepted the report on the record.
