HARRISBURG, Pa. — Public assistance fraud charges were filed against 41 people during January, according to the Office of the State Inspector General (OSIG).
The restitution owed to the Commonwealth in these cases totals $202,973, according to OSIG. Additional cost savings will be realized as the defendants are temporarily disqualified from receiving public benefits in the programs they reportedly defrauded.
In January 2024, OSIG filed felony charges of fraudulently receiving public assistance against 40 people and misdemeanor charges against one separate individual.
It is alleged that these individuals misrepresented their household circumstances and fraudulently received taxpayer-funded public benefits to which they were not entitled.
"Preserving public trust in Pennsylvania’s assistance programs is paramount,” said State Inspector General Lucas M. Miller. "By holding individuals accountable for fraudulent activities, we uphold the integrity of our assistance systems and maintain the public's confidence in their effectiveness."
If convicted, the maximum penalty defendants face for public assistance fraud is seven years in prison and a fine of $15,000. In the case of SNAP, Cash Assistance, or Subsidized Day Care fraud, defendants also face a mandatory disqualification period from the benefits program they allegedly defrauded.
The OSIG investigates and prosecutes public assistance fraud and conducts collection activities for the public benefits programs administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
