STORY:
Welfare Programs at Risk for Y2K

Eight states scrambling to fix computers and programs effecting poor

Everything2000) Welfare checks, food stamps and health care programs in eight states are still in danger of breaking down thanks to the Y2K computer problems. While the majority of states have brought their computers up to date, several have not and that could effect millions of poor Americans.

It seems the state benefits programs were among the last to begin fixing their computers to handle potential problems when the date changes to the Year 2000. Because they waited so long they are still struggling to get their systems up to date, which concerns federal officials.

``When you're doing it this late and you're doing it with the kind of pressure they're under, the probability of errors goes up,'' Margaret Anderson, a technology expert with the Center for Y2K and Society told the Associated press. Anderson’s group has been tracking the impact of Y2K problems on programs that serve the poor.

According to a U.S. government report the states with the problems are; Alabama, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma and the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories also aren't ready.

Many state officials in those states say the government report is out of date and they have now fixed all the problems. Other states say the problems are minimal and should be fixed within the next couple of weeks.

Alabama was the state singled out with the most problems because three systems are still not ready. The welfare programs, child support and child care computers are still not Y2K compliant. Alabama officials disagree with the government report and say they are fully compliant and that the federal report is outdated.

California and Illinois child support computers are not ready and in Minnesota and Connecticut glitches were discovered in the child welfare system.

In Iowa state and federal officials both agree that the computers are not ready for the new year and they are asking Medicaid clients to hold onto their cards in case there are problems in January.

This is the list of states with Y2K problems according to the latest government report.

—Alabama: TANF, child support, and childcare.

—California: Child support.

—Connecticut: Child welfare.

—District of Columbia: Unemployment.

—Illinois: Child support.

—Kentucky: Child care.

—Minnesota: Child welfare.

—North Dakota: Child support.

—Oklahoma: Food stamps, WIC.

U.S. Territories:

—American Samoa: Medicaid, including both systems that pay bills and determines eligibility; childcare.

—Guam: Food stamps, WIC, both Medicaid systems, TANF, child support, childcare, child welfare.

—Puerto Rico: Medicaid, bill paying

—Virgin Islands: Both Medicaid systems, TANF, child support, childcare.

DATE: 12/17/99

Marketplace
Books
Collectibles
Celebration Supplies
General Merchandise
Travel Packages