Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
West Virginia lawmakers questioned the state’s new Department of Human Services cabinet secretary for more than an hour Tuesday over the status of the school clothing allowance program, including its delayed launch and concerns raised by the governor’s office about how some of the money is being spent.
Cabinet Secretary Carl Ayers, who told lawmakers he is only four weeks into the job, faced questions about a program that was delayed for nearly three weeks, closed after about a week and is now under scrutiny by the executive branch.
“Roughly 50% of all the benefits that are issued for school clothing allowance are pulled out in cash,” Ayers told lawmakers.
That figure was also highlighted last week when Gov. Patrick Morrisey released a graphic online detailing how school clothing allowance funds were being accessed. Morrisey raised concerns that cash withdrawn from the benefits could potentially be used to purchase items such as “beer and cigarettes.”
Some lawmakers pushed back on that characterization, questioning whether the available data can actually establish how families spent cash after withdrawing it.
“You’ve got to feel like the people behind the numbers when you’re looking at TANF, when you’re looking at clothing vouchers,” Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam said. “I think that was just completely missed once somebody makes that statement. Because painting that with a broad brush is just ugly to me.”
Ayers said data showed cards being used to withdraw money from ATMs located at bars, tobacco shops, hotels and other businesses. He clarified that the transactions were cash withdrawals from ATMs, not purchases from the businesses themselves.
Committee Chair Sen. Brian Helton, R-Fayette, said that distinction did not resolve his concerns.
“When we see cash being withdrawn from ATM machines from bars, liquor stores, and hotels, we can’t ensure that cash went to the child,” Helton said. “Again, we’re talking over half of $11.5 million that we just simply can’t account for.”
Helton said he wants changes to the program to better ensure the money is used for children.
“What’s wrong with making sure those funds get directed to the kids instead of letting adults — let’s take the chance with that cash?” Helton said. “We just can’t do that as a state.”
Other lawmakers said the data presented does not necessarily demonstrate fraud or abuse.
The school clothing benefit is loaded onto the same electronic benefit transfer card that families use to access other Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits. Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, questioned whether officials can determine which benefits were ultimately used after money is withdrawn as cash.
“I don’t suspect parents that are walking into a DoHS office to apply for a school clothing voucher, going through that process, are then turning around and taking $200 out and going to buy beer and cigarettes,” Worrell said. “I don’t have that concern.”
Lawmakers continued pressing Ayers about why the program did not begin on time.
“This program should have been launched on July 1 of this year, the very same day the governor announced a $370 million surplus,” Worrell said. “That, to me, is unacceptable, that we can’t just kick this program into place immediately. So I do not have a clear understanding on why it was delayed three weeks.”
Ayers said the delay was unrelated to concerns about how families were spending the clothing allowance.
“The reason the program was delayed in opening was due to the TANF structural imbalance,” Ayers said.
Ayers told lawmakers the review of the program began after the governor’s office received complaints about how money was being spent. He couldn't tell lawmakers who made the complaints or what evidence accompanied them.
Tarr said he wanted more information about what prompted the scrutiny.
“It’d be really nice if somebody, whoever received that complaint, steps up and says, ‘I received a complaint. Here’s the abuse, and here’s where the complaint came from, and here’s what the abuse was,’” Tarr said. “We got none of that tonight.”
Helton, however, characterized the hearing as productive.
“This was a great meeting today, and it’s the start of a crusade to stamp out waste, fraud and abuse in this system,” Helton said. “And that’s what we’re going to do.”
Ayers said the DoHS is still processing applications for this year’s school clothing allowance program. He could not provide lawmakers with a date for when that work will be completed.
FULL STORY: wchstv.com/news/local/wva-lawmakers-grill-dohs-secretary-over-delayed-school-clothing-allowance-and-cash-use
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West Virginia lawmakers questioned the state’s new Department of Human Services cabinet secretary for more than an hour Tuesday over the status of the school clothing allowance program, including its delayed launch and concerns raised by the governor’s office about how some of the money is being spent.
Cabinet Secretary Carl Ayers, who told lawmakers he is only four weeks into the job, faced questions about a program that was delayed for nearly three weeks, closed after about a week and is now under scrutiny by the executive branch.
“Roughly 50% of all the benefits that are issued for school clothing allowance are pulled out in cash,” Ayers told lawmakers.
That figure was also highlighted last week when Gov. Patrick Morrisey released a graphic online detailing how school clothing allowance funds were being accessed. Morrisey raised concerns that cash withdrawn from the benefits could potentially be used to purchase items such as “beer and cigarettes.”
Some lawmakers pushed back on that characterization, questioning whether the available data can actually establish how families spent cash after withdrawing it.
“You’ve got to feel like the people behind the numbers when you’re looking at TANF, when you’re looking at clothing vouchers,” Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam said. “I think that was just completely missed once somebody makes that statement. Because painting that with a broad brush is just ugly to me.”
Ayers said data showed cards being used to withdraw money from ATMs located at bars, tobacco shops, hotels and other businesses. He clarified that the transactions were cash withdrawals from ATMs, not purchases from the businesses themselves.
Committee Chair Sen. Brian Helton, R-Fayette, said that distinction did not resolve his concerns.
“When we see cash being withdrawn from ATM machines from bars, liquor stores, and hotels, we can’t ensure that cash went to the child,” Helton said. “Again, we’re talking over half of $11.5 million that we just simply can’t account for.”
Helton said he wants changes to the program to better ensure the money is used for children.
“What’s wrong with making sure those funds get directed to the kids instead of letting adults — let’s take the chance with that cash?” Helton said. “We just can’t do that as a state.”
Other lawmakers said the data presented does not necessarily demonstrate fraud or abuse.
The school clothing benefit is loaded onto the same electronic benefit transfer card that families use to access other Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits. Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, questioned whether officials can determine which benefits were ultimately used after money is withdrawn as cash.
“I don’t suspect parents that are walking into a DoHS office to apply for a school clothing voucher, going through that process, are then turning around and taking $200 out and going to buy beer and cigarettes,” Worrell said. “I don’t have that concern.”
Lawmakers continued pressing Ayers about why the program did not begin on time.
“This program should have been launched on July 1 of this year, the very same day the governor announced a $370 million surplus,” Worrell said. “That, to me, is unacceptable, that we can’t just kick this program into place immediately. So I do not have a clear understanding on why it was delayed three weeks.”
Ayers said the delay was unrelated to concerns about how families were spending the clothing allowance.
“The reason the program was delayed in opening was due to the TANF structural imbalance,” Ayers said.
Ayers told lawmakers the review of the program began after the governor’s office received complaints about how money was being spent. He couldn't tell lawmakers who made the complaints or what evidence accompanied them.
Tarr said he wanted more information about what prompted the scrutiny.
“It’d be really nice if somebody, whoever received that complaint, steps up and says, ‘I received a complaint. Here’s the abuse, and here’s where the complaint came from, and here’s what the abuse was,’” Tarr said. “We got none of that tonight.”
Helton, however, characterized the hearing as productive.
“This was a great meeting today, and it’s the start of a crusade to stamp out waste, fraud and abuse in this system,” Helton said. “And that’s what we’re going to do.”
Ayers said the DoHS is still processing applications for this year’s school clothing allowance program. He could not provide lawmakers with a date for when that work will be completed.
FULL STORY: wchstv.com/news/local/wva-lawmakers-grill-dohs-secretary-over-delayed-school-clothing-allowance-and-cash-use
_________________________________________
Follow WCHS on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/eyewitnessnewscharleston
Twitter: twitter.com/wchs8fox11
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For the latest local and national news, visit our website: wchstv.com
Sign up for our newsletter: wchstv.com/sign-up
