We Were Wrong; It’s Been Fixed : A stolen welfare check sends a young woman into a social services limbo of misinformation and frustration.

The AFDC client in this case has received the replacement benefits to which she was entitled. The information given her by her eligibility worker concerning the 10-day wait was incorrect.

The departmental policy on stolen checks is that recipients can file an affidavit for a replacement check immediately. From that point, it normally takes about three days to receive the check. It is only when the check has not been delivered by the post office that a five-workday wait is required by the California Government Code. The affidavit in this situation may be signed on the sixth day. Thereafter, it again takes about three days to receive the check.

Further, it is DPSS policy upon completion of an affidavit to notify the auditor-controller immediately by fax to stop payment on the check.

Lengthy delays in receiving replacement checks will be eliminated when the department implements an on-line benefit issuance system on June 1. This system will allow AFDC recipients to pick up their assistance checks on the same day they pick up their food stamp benefits at authorized check cashing outlets throughout the county. Approximately 95% of all AFDC recipients also receive food stamps; therefore they can get both benefits at the same time.

Finally, if recipients encounter a problem at an office such as the one reported, they may call the DPSS case complaint and inquiry referral section at (562) 908-8333 for assistance. [Editors’ note: when The Times called this number to check its accuracy, we were on hold until we hung up an hour later]. ‘After waiting in many lines for many hours, l was told that even though I had made a police report and tried to alert their office to the robbery, nothing could be done for 10 days.’

LISA NUNEZ

Department of Public Social Services, chief of welfare reform implementation