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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 08/2016

FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

0025.24

Fraud exists when:

● People willfully or intentionally withhold, conceal, or misrepresent information to receive or attempt to receive more assistance than they are eligible for. For some programs, this includes people giving or receiving property without receiving or providing reasonable compensation. See 0015.69.06 (Improper Asset Transfers).

● For purposes of establishing fraud in an Administrative Disqualification Hearing (ADH), an Intentional Program Violation (IPV) shall consist of a willful or intentional false statement, a concealment of a fact, or a misrepresentation. See 0025.24.06.03 (Administrative Disqualification Hearing).

● People plan with or knowingly help another person to fraudulently seek or obtain assistance.

● Ineligible or unauthorized people knowingly redeem or transfer assistance checks, or EBT cards.

Refer anyone you suspect of fraud for investigation. If you think fraud has occurred, immediately refer the case to the county's investigator or investigative unit. Continue benefits if current eligibility exists. Do not close a case or deny benefits to people under investigation for fraud if they are otherwise eligible.

You may delay notifying a client of an overpayment if the county attorney believes that it would hinder the fraud investigation. In this instance, you may wait up to the end of the quarter following the quarter of discovery to notify the client of the overpayment and begin recoupment.

Disqualify people found guilty of fraud through an Administrative Disqualification Hearing (ADH), a court approved pre-trial diversion plan, a disqualification consent agreement, or a conviction by a court action. See 0025.24.06 (Disqualification for Fraud) for information on disqualification procedures.

MFIP, DWP, MSA, GA: EBT cardholders are prohibited from using their EBT debit card to purchase tobacco products or alcoholic beverages. Purchasing or attempting to purchase tobacco products or alcoholic beverages with an EBT debit card is considered fraud and subject to disqualification. See 0025.24.06 (Disqualification for Fraud) for information on disqualification procedures.

Disqualify MFIP families from Transition Year Child Care when all caregivers are found guilty of fraud.

SNAP: Selling, or attempting to sell SNAP benefits or EBT cards is an Intentional Program Violation (IPV) and subject to fraud disqualification. See 0025.24.06 (Disqualification for Fraud) for information on disqualification procedures.

GRH: No provisions.