Here’s the press release from Buncombe County:
Joining Forces to Stamp Out Fraud in Our Community
Buncombe County Government Announces a New Partnership between Health and Human Services, Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s Office
Committing public assistance fraud is a serious crime and we need your help to keep it out of our community. Benefit fraud occurs when individuals lie or withhold information to receive benefits that they are not eligible for or use their benefits for monetary gain. People who commit benefit fraud, steal valuable resources and hurt those that need benefits the most. Through enhanced technology and a new partnership between Buncombe County Health and Human Services, the Sheriff’s Department, and the District Attorney’s Office, we have joined forces to educate report, investigate and prosecute fraud in our community.
Public Assistance comes in the form of state and federal programs such as Food Nutrition Benefits, Medicaid Health Insurance, Child Care, WIC, and Work First programs. In Buncombe County most households that receive needed public assistance are home to a child, elderly person or disabled individual. Through a newly integrated case management system called NC FAST, eligibility is better tracked across programs and universal caseworkers have access to client information across all public assistance programs. These factors will enable county staff to uncover fraud more quickly.
Building on this new technology, Health and Human Services, in partnership with the sheriff’s department and the district attorney’s office have created a team that has expertise on public assistance and investigation skills to detect and investigate cases of benefit fraud. This team works to investigate and prosecute offenders as well as educate the public that benefit fraud is a serious crime.
We all have a part to play to Stamp Out Fraud in our community:
• When you apply – Don’t lie. Don’t withhold information.
• If you suspect fraud– Report it anonymously to Crime Stoppers 255.5050
Working together with community agencies and people like you we can assure that these valuable resources are safeguarded for the people who need public assistance the most.
For local promotional materials: www.buncombecounty.org/fraud
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