DHSS Press Release |
Date: September 26, 2008 DHSS-92-2008 |
| Vincent P. Meconi, Secretary Jay Lynch, Communications Director (302) 255-9037, Pager (302) 247-8523 Email: jay.lynch@state.de.us |
Contact: Reporters Phone: 302-744-4907 |
DHSS/DSS TO OPEN WILMINGTON CHANGE REPORT CENTER OCT. 1
Improves Service to Wilmington residents who receive Public Assistance Benefits
Wilmington DE - Individuals who receive TANF, Food Stamps, Medical Assistance, Child Care Assistance and/or Cash Assistance from Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) Division of Social Services (DSS) will find it easier to report changes in information that are required for them to receive their benefits when the new Change Reporting Center (CRC) opens Wednesday, October 1, 2008
DSS created the new CRC to allow for greater efficiency in handling the required reporting and to save money in the face of higher volume of people applying for economic assistance programs.
"Because of recent economic condition, people who receive assistance from us, and their case workers, might spend spent a lot of time playing phone tag to convey a simple change in information," said Jay Lynch, DHSS Communications Director. "This initiative is helping us to more efficiently handle our economic assistance cases in the face of uncertain economic times. Now case workers can focus their time on doing more complex work and leave the process of handling changes in basic information to a smaller group of workers dedicated to that purpose."
Customers can report changes to their cases such as address, employment, expense or income changes and changes in who's living in the home by phone (302) 571-4900, fax (302) 571-4901, email or ground mail at P.O. Box 3480, Wilmington, DE 19804.
"We expect the Wilmington CRC to serve around 15,000 families," said Lynch. “Monthly the division serves approximately 70,000 families statewide.
CRC staff will interact with clients and DSS field offices by use of phone, fax, email and regular mail. Along with improved customer service as an immediate goal of the CRC, DSS expects the long-term benefits will be the ability to better manage caseloads and improve accuracy.
The Division hopes to expand the center statewide in the future when funding becomes available
The mailing address for the CRC is P.O. Box 3480, Wilmington, DE 19804. The phone number is (302) 571-4900 and the fax number is (302) 571-4901.
For more information about the CRC please contact Ray Fitzgerald 302-255-9645.
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.
