Peoria Family Fears Longer Waits for State Benefits
By: Sophie Nielsen-Kolding WMBD/WYZZ TV
Updated: August 31, 2012
PEKIN- Some Peoria and Tazewell County residents are afraid of losing the state benefits they rely on because of a proposed consolidation of four state aid offices.
"It's going to be devastating if this office closes," said Josh Foster, who's family depends on the Tazewell County Department of Human Services, even though they live in Peoria.
"Here you don't have to wait in a line for three and a half hours, four hours to see a case worker," Foster said about the Pekin office.
The state's plan is to move the Peoria and Tazewell Human Services and Department of Rehabilitation Services into one one building in Peoria, shutting down the current offices in Pekin. It's supposed to save money in a time where Illinois is sorting out financial troubles.
Tazewell County case worker Lori Gladson said they're already so understaffed, the consolidation will increase already the already long wait times. Gladson said the state has 1,700,000 cases, and only 1,900 workers to handle them.
Another concern is how long it will take for people in rural Tazewell County to come to the new building in downtown Peoria.
"People that are working are going to have to take a day off work and have a risk of losing their job," Gladson said.
Gladson worries even more about the people who won't be able to come at all.
"Kids are not going to have the medical treatment they need, they're not going to have the food supplements they need and the elderly and disabled are not going to get help either," she said.
"My health insurance through my work isn't anything, so we depend on this office and the services they provide to us because we're working, but we're just poor," said Foster, who works as a security guard.
Gladson is encouraging people to call legislators, to tell them to keep the Tazewell county office open.
The state is trying to push people to do more online, but Gladson said many of the people they help don't have a computer, and often caseworkers are too busy to pick up the phone.
UPDATE- The Illinois Department of Human Services Responded with this statement:
"It's going to be devastating if this office closes," said Josh Foster, who's family depends on the Tazewell County Department of Human Services, even though they live in Peoria.
"Here you don't have to wait in a line for three and a half hours, four hours to see a case worker," Foster said about the Pekin office.
The state's plan is to move the Peoria and Tazewell Human Services and Department of Rehabilitation Services into one one building in Peoria, shutting down the current offices in Pekin. It's supposed to save money in a time where Illinois is sorting out financial troubles.
Tazewell County case worker Lori Gladson said they're already so understaffed, the consolidation will increase already the already long wait times. Gladson said the state has 1,700,000 cases, and only 1,900 workers to handle them.
Another concern is how long it will take for people in rural Tazewell County to come to the new building in downtown Peoria.
"People that are working are going to have to take a day off work and have a risk of losing their job," Gladson said.
Gladson worries even more about the people who won't be able to come at all.
"Kids are not going to have the medical treatment they need, they're not going to have the food supplements they need and the elderly and disabled are not going to get help either," she said.
"My health insurance through my work isn't anything, so we depend on this office and the services they provide to us because we're working, but we're just poor," said Foster, who works as a security guard.
Gladson is encouraging people to call legislators, to tell them to keep the Tazewell county office open.
The state is trying to push people to do more online, but Gladson said many of the people they help don't have a computer, and often caseworkers are too busy to pick up the phone.
UPDATE- The Illinois Department of Human Services Responded with this statement:
"Consolidating the Tazewell County offices with the Peoria County offices will achieve cost reductions through efficiencies and save taxpayer dollars. Over the past few years, DHS has consolidated offices to eliminate or reduce lease costs wherever possible. Since January 2009, the State of Illinois has reduced its lease costs by more than $41 million through office consolidations and lease negotiations. However, these consolidations will not result in a loss of services to DHS clients or a loss of jobs."
