Pa. welfare secretary: 650 people losing benefits for fraud
In a crackdown that began in February, Pennsylvania’s Department of Public Welfare reports 653 people have been identified for fraudulent use of the state’s welfare benefits.
The department’s been checking in on recipents who’ve been filing electronic records from non-contiguous states. More than 1,00 cases were flagged, resulting in the 653 case closures.
“The department’s analysis found that 76 percent of the people collecting Pennsylvania benefits while living in another state were using the food stamp program,” according to the DPW’s announcement. “Additionally, 24 percent of those living out-of-state were collecting other types of benefits such as cash assistance, Medical Assistance, or a combination of cash, medical and food stamps.”
The department also recently rolled out another anti-fraud initiative. The food stamp asset test began earlier this spring, requiring that recipients have only between $5,500 and $9,000 in assets. Opponents say the move is too big a burden on those who rely on state benefits.
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