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Mossman: Welfare fraud initiative has saved $117K
By Francesca Olsen
Social Services Commissioner Paul Mossman had a few things to update the county Human Services Committee on recently, but only one agenda item required the presence of the Columbia County Sheriff.
Mossman gave the committee an update on the county Department of Social Services’ welfare fraud initiative, which began in April and has, so far, generated 11 arrests. “Keep in mind, this is a work in progress,” he said.
Since full-time investigator John Rivero from the Sheriff’s Office started working with DSS investigators (he has an office at DSS), he’s generated some type of paperwork on 64 cases. Eleven have led to arrests, with 37 charges filed. Rivero said this was a “realized savings” for the county of $117,184, in money the county either hasn’t paid out under fraudulent claims or has charged people for receiving illegally.
“We only target those who are attempting to fraud the system,” said county Sheriff David W. Harrison, who was at the committee meeting. “(People who are) doing things they know are against the law and are things they shouldn’t be doing.”
“We have a long way to go,” said Mossman. “I think we’re just at the tip of the iceberg.”
Supervisor Billy Hughes, D-Hudson3, asked Mossman if DSS had seen a change in attitude from welfare recipients since arrests began. Mossman replied that there are more people applying for services at DSS than ever (“a sign of the times,” he said), so it’s hard to tell. The family of a recently arrested suspect of welfare fraud did come to the department to re-do all of their welfare paperwork, Rivero said.
Supervisor Ed Cross, D-Hudson2, said he was pleased to see the initiative working, since plenty of honest people who really do need services are applying. “The ones that have really needed it have been labeled as frauding,” he said. “Word of mouth will stop people from walking the threshold.”
Mossman also briefed the committee on the Americans with Disabilities Act compliance subcommittee, which has met once so far and was formed to explore ways to make DSS easier to use for people with disabilities of all types. Two representatives from the Independent Living Center of Columbia County sit on the subcommittee, as well as an attorney from the National Center for Law and Economic Justice.
“I think it was a very productive meeting,” Mossman said. Hughes, who also sits on the subcommittee, said the meeting opened up a few issues related to accessibility, including bringing DSS policies up to date, and laws and regulations that relate to web accessibility for the disabled. The subcommittee will meet again Dec. 16.
Mossman also told the committee that the DSS staff spent Election Day (when all county offices were closed) re-organizing the building’s lobby to make it more “customer friendly,” including re-arranging billboards and adding updated information in visible areas, and beginning the set-up of a children’s area. DSS also has a flat-screen television they plan to install which will run educational videos on a loop.
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com.
Mossman gave the committee an update on the county Department of Social Services’ welfare fraud initiative, which began in April and has, so far, generated 11 arrests. “Keep in mind, this is a work in progress,” he said.
Since full-time investigator John Rivero from the Sheriff’s Office started working with DSS investigators (he has an office at DSS), he’s generated some type of paperwork on 64 cases. Eleven have led to arrests, with 37 charges filed. Rivero said this was a “realized savings” for the county of $117,184, in money the county either hasn’t paid out under fraudulent claims or has charged people for receiving illegally.
“We only target those who are attempting to fraud the system,” said county Sheriff David W. Harrison, who was at the committee meeting. “(People who are) doing things they know are against the law and are things they shouldn’t be doing.”
“We have a long way to go,” said Mossman. “I think we’re just at the tip of the iceberg.”
Supervisor Billy Hughes, D-Hudson3, asked Mossman if DSS had seen a change in attitude from welfare recipients since arrests began. Mossman replied that there are more people applying for services at DSS than ever (“a sign of the times,” he said), so it’s hard to tell. The family of a recently arrested suspect of welfare fraud did come to the department to re-do all of their welfare paperwork, Rivero said.
Supervisor Ed Cross, D-Hudson2, said he was pleased to see the initiative working, since plenty of honest people who really do need services are applying. “The ones that have really needed it have been labeled as frauding,” he said. “Word of mouth will stop people from walking the threshold.”
Mossman also briefed the committee on the Americans with Disabilities Act compliance subcommittee, which has met once so far and was formed to explore ways to make DSS easier to use for people with disabilities of all types. Two representatives from the Independent Living Center of Columbia County sit on the subcommittee, as well as an attorney from the National Center for Law and Economic Justice.
“I think it was a very productive meeting,” Mossman said. Hughes, who also sits on the subcommittee, said the meeting opened up a few issues related to accessibility, including bringing DSS policies up to date, and laws and regulations that relate to web accessibility for the disabled. The subcommittee will meet again Dec. 16.
Mossman also told the committee that the DSS staff spent Election Day (when all county offices were closed) re-organizing the building’s lobby to make it more “customer friendly,” including re-arranging billboards and adding updated information in visible areas, and beginning the set-up of a children’s area. DSS also has a flat-screen television they plan to install which will run educational videos on a loop.
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com.
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peoplesview99 wrote on Nov 20, 2009 2:28 PM: