Reviews not happening, says P.E.I.’s auditor general

Some social assistance rates in P.E.I. haven’t changed in more than 10 years, according to the latest report from the province’s auditor general.

The report released Thursday included a special audit of P.E.I.’s social assistance program that found clothing, household and personal requirements rates haven’t changed in more than a decade.

Shelter rates haven’t changed since November 2013.

When speaking to the media, auditor general Jane MacAdam said the auditors expected the shelter allowances would have been reviewed annually.

“It’s based on legislation, and we found that’s not happening.”

The maximum monthly shelter allowance for a single person as of March 31, 2017 was $539 and $854 for a couple with two children.

The report said the Department of Family and Human Services doesn’t provide executive council with information annually to review financial assistance rates and exemptions from financial resources.

That information has only been provided for review when a change was requested.

The audit found the department hasn’t developed performance indicators to measure its progress in achieving the social assistance program’s goals.

Those goals include providing the basic necessities of living for people who can’t meet their own needs. MacAdam said rates or exemptions are policy decisions, but the department hasn’t been providing sufficient or relevant information on an annual basis to help make those policy decisions.

“In order for executive council to make informed policy decisions, it’s important that they have relevant information and complete information,” she said.

In total, the report made 11 recommendations.

It also dealt with annual reviews of social assistance files to assess eligibility and which were supposed to be done within 12 months.

To make sure the annual reviews are done on time, the department won’t release social assistance payments if they aren’t completed within 14 months of the previous review.

The audit found in all the cases it looked at, the reviews were more than two months late and steps were taken to circumvent the controls to make sure payments continued.

“This practice increases the risk that changing needs will not be identified and benefits will be provided to ineligible recipients,” the report said.

A statement from the department said it accepted the recommendations in the auditor general’s report and was committed to addressing them.