Local News - October 2003

DSS reports fraud investigations on the rise

Published October 1, 2003

By SARAH GRANO, Staff Writer

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Desperate times call for desperate measures, and more people are attempting to receive assistance from the Department of Social Services through fraudulent means.

“I don’t think we’re going to stop fraud,” said Betsy Harris, who investigates fraud charges for the DSS. “I think it will get worse before it gets better.”

Many people have had a decrease in income because of the poor economy and are now struggling to pay their bills.

For some of them the decrease in income is not enough to make them eligible for food stamps, Medicaid or Work First, said Susan McCracken, director of the DSS.

Therefore they supply false information to the DSS in hopes of gaining assistance.

“Often times there’s money there, you just have to figure out where it comes from,” Harris said.

Many people claim to be living apart from their spouse or unemployed in order to qualify for assistance.

“They come in with a story,” Harris said. “They know what they need to tell.”

In more extreme cases people use false social security numbers and identities.

A variety of techniques are used to catch people who are using assistance illegally.

Harris has even done some surveillance to get proof of fraud.

“That’s probably my least favorite part, but it’s necessary to find out what’s going on,” she said.

Harris usually stakes out houses to prove that people are living together when they claim otherwise.

Filing taxes together and statements from neighbors are not enough proof.

“If we don’t have something very, very specific the state will not support us,” McCracken said.

The Lincoln Police Department helps with some of the surveillance at night, but Harris usually goes out alone.

“I haven’t been into a neighborhood where I was concerned about my safety,” she said. “If I did I would bring someone with me.”

Cases of fraud are brought to Harris’ attention through case workers and phone calls to the DSS.

“They usually brag about it, and that’s how they get caught,” McCracken said. “We get a lot of calls from friends that got angry, from exes.”

Harris uses the Internet, court testimony and information from the Internal Revenue Service to prove fraud.

 The following issues were also discussed during the Lincoln County Social Services Board Meeting:

· The DSS has received enough federal grant money to hire two new staff members, one for investigation and one for foster care.

· Current staffing is inadequate, and there has been the threat of overworked employees leaving Lincoln for less stressful jobs, McCracken said.

· The DSS will be moving into its new building on Oct. 24, a week later than planned.

· The use of food stamps is at a record high because of under employed and unemployed people, McCracken said. The need for Medicaid has also increased.

The DSS has spent a lot of emergency assistance money in all programs, but the overall budget is fine, McCracken said.

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Staff Writer Sarah Grano can be reached at 704-735-3031 or sgrano@ltnews.com

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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