New bill would slow rollout of Indiana welfare system changes

EVANSVILLE – A Republican lawmaker has defied Gov. Mitch Daniels and filed a bill to slow the rollout of Indiana’s new welfare intake system, but the leader of the GOP-controlled state Senate is skeptical that the legislation is needed.

The bill by Rep. Suzanne Crouch, R-Evansville, would stop the Family and Social Services Administration from automating welfare intake in any additional counties until lawmakers are satisfied that problems have been fixed in the 59 counties operating under the new system.

If it passes in the House, state Sen. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville, will carry it in the Senate.

Becker and Crouch have been two of the more outspoken legislators in criticizing how FSSA has managed the transition to the new system, in which applicants for food stamps, Medicaid and other welfare benefits lose individual case workers. Instead, they are encouraged to use telephone call centers, Web sites and fax machines to apply for and renew their eligibility for benefits.

After the changes that began nearly 15 months ago in 12 north central counties and have since expanded to 47 others, many clients complained of lost paperwork, revoked benefits they were still eligible for, lengthy telephone hold times and other problems.

Daniels, a Republican, has said his administration will not back down from the changes he insists are needed to modernize the management of Indiana’s 1.1 million-client welfare caseload. Crouch and Becker heard arguments against the legislation from new FSSA Secretary Anne Murphy and members of the governor’s staff but said they had no choice.

“They certainly understand that we consider our first responsibility is representing our constituents,” Crouch told the Evansville Courier & Press.

Said Becker: “Our constituents, both of our hospitals, all of our United Way agencies, have been adamant to us to proceed with this piece of legislation.”

Daniels said he was disappointed.

“We think they are in error, but my expectation is as we move forward and fix problems that are there, they’ll feel differently, and over time this issue will resolve itself,” Daniels said.