The Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector General made an announcement this week about public assistance fraud charges filed against 52 people during January 2023. According to the Inspector General’s office, the individuals are charged with misrepresenting themselves and fraudulently receiving taxpayer-funded benefits to which they were not entitled. Among the cases, 49 involve felony charges, while three involve misdemeanors.
The total restitution owed to the Commonwealth in these cases is $349,835, as reported by the Inspector General’s office. Furthermore, the individuals charged will also be temporarily disqualified from receiving public benefits in the programs they allegedly defrauded.
State Inspector General Lucas M. Miller said, “We must protect the integrity of Pennsylvania’s public assistance programs, and that’s why OSIG is working to make sure only Pennsylvanians who qualify receive assistance. I am proud of OSIG’s investigators who help ensure accountability with the Commonwealth’s public assistance programs.”
Public benefit fraud occurs when individuals misrepresent their eligibility to receive public assistance benefits, such as food stamps, cash assistance, or subsidized daycare. The penalty for those convicted of public assistance fraud could result in up to seven years in prison and a fine of $15,000. The individuals may also face a mandatory disqualification period from the benefits program they allegedly defrauded. Lawmakers continue to debate the future of SNAP benefits and how to prevent public benefit fraud from happening.
