Chas Sisk

csisk@tennessean.com

The state Department of Human Services has laid off 121 workers responsible for administering food stamp and welfare payments in Tennessee and eliminated 256 vacant positions.

The department said Monday that the workers were let go Friday as part of an effort to rethink how the state administers its Temporary Family Assistance programs. Officials also said in a news release that caseloads had decreased.

All of the workers who were laid off were probationary employees, meaning they had been in their positions less than 12 months. They were given 10 days' severance pay.

The workers were still in training or had taken on limited case work assignments and clerical duties, a spokeswoman for the department said. The Family Assistance division continues to employ about 2,400 people.

DHS officials said they plan more layoffs but have not yet determined what positions would be cut. Gov. Bill Haslam's 2014-15 budget, which the General Assembly approved this spring, calls for eliminating an additional 154 vacant positions.

Under Haslam, the state has cut more than 4,000 positions from its payrolls, bringing the total workforce down to about 43,000 workers.

Reach Chas Sisk at 615-259-8283 and on Twitter @chassisk.