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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Audit Finds Illinois Wasted $300,000 On Dead Recipients

Flickr user 401(K) 2012 / "Money" (CC v. 2.0)

As Illinois copes with a massive budget shortfall, a new audit finds the state wasted more than $300,000 on programs for people who died long ago. 

The report from the state auditor’s office says $321,000 was used to provide home care through the Illinois Department of Aging. 

The audit says the funds went for senior citizens in the department’s Community Care program last year. That was money spent on care programs for people who were already dead. 

The audit also says an additional $38,000 was paid through the Aging Program for people in prison. The Community Care Program provides in-home and community-based services for elderly people at home who otherwise would live in a nursing home. 

State auditors recommend stricter controls are needed for the program to prevent dead or incarcerated people from receiving the services in the future. The Illinois Department of Aging has not commented on the the audit.