Report flags $1 million overpayment, data breach, other issues at Connecticut DCF
State auditors are raising concerns about several issues involving the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, including a more than $1 million overpayment, a data breach, and questions about an employee’s conduct.
This was all found in auditors’ “monthly loss report” for July 2026.
DCF said it discovered the overpayment while correcting an earlier payment problem. According to the agency, staff sent duplicate payments to 141 providers.
The agency said it has recovered more than $900,000 so far and is developing additional safeguards to prevent the issue from happening again.
The overpayment was not the only problem cited. DCF also provided an update on an email breach NBC Connecticut Investigates first reported last month.
DCF now says personal information belonging to about 6,000 people was compromised. That included Social Security numbers for about 106 people.
Auditors also noted an issue involving a social worker who was found to have worked a second job while collecting workers’ compensation. The worker also treated a DCF client in private practice.
DCF recommended discipline, but the agency has not said what action was taken. NBC Connecticut Investigates pressed the department for more information about what happened to the employee, but DCF declined to comment further.
The findings come as DCF continues to face scrutiny over how well the agency is protecting children. DCF did bring these issues forward to state auditors, but critics are likely to point to the incidents as more evidence the department needs closer oversight.
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