Nassau County saved $26.7 million in social services payments in 2014 through its efforts to root out in welfare fraud and abuse, according to the Nassau County Executive’s office.
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano said 2014 was the most successful year for the county Department of Social Services Office of Investigations in uncovering people trying to defraud taxpayers.
“Despite the fact that time and time again we inform the public that those who cheat the system will be caught and prosecuted, some continue to question our determination to root out fraud and abuse,” Mangano said in a release. “I again say to those who would steal money from the neediest of our citizens: you will be caught and prosecuted, and the money you’ve stolen will be returned to our taxpayers.”
The county has saved a total of $52.4 million through the investigation of fraud and abuse since 2011, Mangano said.
In 2014, the county saved $20.4 million in both expenditures for Medicaid, Public Assistance, Day Care and SNAP – the food stamps program – as well as welfare fraud, according to the release.
Nassau County Executive spokesman Brian Nevin said in an email that $530,000 was saved in criminal welfare fraud.
Nevin said the fraud was found by the Department of Social Services’ Office of Investigations and referred to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office for prosecution.
The county also saved $6.3 million in civil recoveries that came from pursuing liens on property and estates, he said.
Nevin said the Liens and Recovery Unit, part of the Department of Social Services, was responsible for the collection of the liens recovery.
John Faust, director of the county Department of Social Services Office of Investigations Special Investigations, said in the statement the county has also been successful recovering money by working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“The Office of Investigations joined with the U.S. Department of Agriculture whereby fugitives with a felony warrant who receive SNAP can have their benefits terminated as well as face arrest, further protecting taxpayers’ money and removing violent felons from the streets,” Faust said.
Department of Social Services Commissioner John Imhof credited his staff for the money recovered.
“This year’s record amount is a testament to the dedication and tenacity of our staff in saving taxpayer dollars and making certain only the neediest receive the services they require,” Imhof said in the statement.
