Public assistance fraud is a serious crime. It occurs when a person provides false information in order to receive government or state benefits. This is an abuse of services set aside for needy people. It actually deprives those in need by taking benefits that are set aside for them.
Public assistance fraud can occur in several ways. Perhaps the most popular is providing false income information. The person committing fraud will report less income than they actually earn. This is because the amount of income determines if a person can receive benefits. And if they are eligible for benefits, then their income also determines the amount of their benefits.
Another fraud tactic is to obtain more benefits or money by inflating the number of dependents. For example, a person may have one child that is a dependent. But to commit fraud, they could claim to have other dependents when they don’t. A person can also commit fraud by applying for benefits under a false name or social security number.
One of the worse cases of public assistance fraud was committed by Linda Taylor. Taylor swindled more than $150,000 in income from the government. She created 30 fake home addresses and used 80 names in order to receive food stamps. And Dorothy Mae Woods defrauded the government of $377,000. Woods used phony birth certificates to claim 38 child dependents who never existed.
Combating public assistance fraud
Public assistance fraud costs millions of dollars per year. Defrauding the government is serious crime that carries serious consequences. If you are under investigation, then your application will be scrutinized.
The first step in investigating fraud starts within the welfare office. Workers will review your application and check for accuracy. They look into bank account history, verify wages, and contact landlords to see how many people live in your household.
If fraud has taken place, then you will receive punishment. The severity of the punishment depends on how many benefits you received. In a simple case, you may simply have to repay the amount of benefits received. And it’s likely you won’t be able to apply for benefits again. In severe cases, you might find yourself sentenced to time in prison. Some sentences can last for five years or more.
Seeking legal assistance
When you’re under investigation, get copies of any paperwork associated with your case. This will help you understand why you’re under investigation. There are situations in which a person honestly didn’t mean to commit fraud. This could apply to your case if you made an honest error on your application. Or perhaps you misunderstood a question.
In any case, you should contact a lawyer. Legal assistance is highly recommended when dealing with the state or federal government. Lawyers such as William Hanlon criminal defense attorney in Tampa can assist you with a consultation that can review your rights and defense strategies as the consequences of fraud are often severe. It’s too serious of a situation to leave up to chance.
Take the paperwork concerning your case to a lawyer for review. A qualified criminal defense attorney lawyer can review your information and tell you how to proceed. Having an experienced lawyer by your side is better than facing the government alone.
The government is serious about stopping public assistance fraud because it wastes there limited resources. It’s an illegal and unfair practice that hurts those that public assistance seeks to help. If you’re accused of fraud, then you should contact a lawyer. You’re potentially facing serious punishment if you’re found guilty. It’s smart to have legal representation even if you’re innocent.