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Volume III | Chapter 10

10116 MISSISSIPPI [ TANF WORK PROGRAM - PAYMENT PROCESS:

1. Supportive services to which he/she was not entitled, or 2. Supportive services greater than that to which he/she is justly entitled, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon the conviction thereof will be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or be imprisoned at the discretion of the court. In assessing the penalty, the court will take into consideration the amount of money fraudulently received. b. Anyone obtaining these services through fraudulent devices will be punished by: 1. Imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a term not exceeding three (3) years, and fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) or 2. Imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding one (1) year, and fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) c. All staff should keep in mind that fraud is a serious charge to make against an individual and the results can be equally serious. According to a ruling by a Mississippi court in a civil fraud case, there is a presumption against fraud, dishonesty and bad motive. The evidence to overcome this presumption must be more than a mere preponderance. It must be clear and convincing. When making a decision regarding suspected fraud, the case manager should consider the following: 1. Whether the participant/provider obtained supportive services/reimbursements by willfully making a false statement or by knowingly withholding information that would have a bearing on his/her eligibility or participation in the program. The case manager should be aware of indications that the participant or provider understood that the information given affected the receipt of TANF supportive services. 2. Whether the participant/provider gave information during assessment or at other times which appeared to contradict later statements. Did the individual realize that the later statements were different?

PAYMENT PROCESS]