Investigates all reported allegations of fraud in the Temporary Assistance, SNAP, Medicaid, HEAP, and Day Care programs. Also investigates day care providers being paid by Social Services who do not really provide care and cases involving food stamp trafficking. Does not investigate Social Security, Disability, Workman's Comp, Unemployment, or Section 8.

Investigates all reported allegations of fraud in the Temporary Assistance, SNAP, Medicaid, HEAP, and Day Care programs. Also investigates day care providers being paid by Social Services who do not really provide care and cases involving food stamp trafficking. Does not investigate Social Security, Disability, Workman's Comp, Unemployment, or Section 8.

Informs and helps citizens about health care rights and benefits, including: challenging health insurers denying claims for covered costs navigating the complex health care system targeting health care organizations with fraudulent, misleading or deceptive practices educating New Yorkers about their health care rightsOption 3 Helpline: helps benefits claims when HMO denies coverage assists with health care billing and payment problems helps obtain guaranteed benefits investigates lost insurance coverage

Investigates complaints regarding allegations of public assistance and benefits fraud and over-payments of SNAP and Medicaid. Clearly established cases of fraud are referred to the District Attorney's office for possible criminal prosecution.

The Special Investigations Unit investigates reports of public assistance fraud, regarding food stamps, TANF, medicaid, or other public assistance. Also investigates lost or stolen public assistance checks.

Accepts and investigates consumer fraud reports including reports about charities and nonprofits. Also the state counsel and Medicaid fraud unit. Provides assistance to victims of crimes that happened within New York State.

Provides Congregate lunches, nutrition education and counseling, and home-delivered meals for homebound elderly, nutrition education and counseling.Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) are SNAP recipients aged 18-64 who are able to work and don't have a dependent child in their household. They can only receive SNAP benefits for a limited time (3 months in a 36-month period) unless they meet certain work requirements or have an exemption. These work requirements generally involve working or participating in a work program for at least 20 hours per week (80 hours per month). These requirements will not go into effect until FebruaryThere have been a lot of "skimming" problems with EBT cards - it is recommended that people lock their cards if they are not using them and unlock when they go to use them.Below is the link to the EBT Skimming Scam - there is a way to lock EBT cards and this link lets clients know how to do it.EBT Scam Alert | OTDA

Offers information about patient rights when hospitalized, medical records review for quality of care and other information regarding health care through Medicare and Medicaid programs, including Medicaid fraud.

SNAP, formerly food stamps, issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used like cash for authorized retail food stores. Eligibility based on household size, income, and other factors.Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) are SNAP recipients aged 18-64 who are able to work and don't have a dependent child in their household. They can only receive SNAP benefits for a limited time (3 months in a 36-month period) unless they meet certain work requirements or have an exemption. These work requirements generally involve working or participating in a work program for at least 20 hours per week (80 hours per month). These requirements will not go into effect until FebruaryThere have been a lot of "skimming" problems with EBT cards - it is recommended that people lock their cards if they are not using them and unlock when they go to use them.Below is the link to the EBT Skimming Scam - there is a way to lock EBT cards and this link lets clients know how to do it.EBT Scam Alert | OTDA

Investigates all reported allegations of fraud in the Temporary Assistance, SNAP, Medicaid, HEAP, and Day Care programs. Also investigates day care providers being paid by Social Services who do not really provide care and cases involving food stamp trafficking. Does not investigate Social Security, Disability, Workman's Comp, Unemployment, or Section 8.

Accepts and investigates consumer fraud reports including reports about charities and nonprofits. Also the state counsel and Medicaid fraud unit. Provides assistance to victims of crimes that happened within New York State.

Provides temporary benefits and services to income eligible individuals and families with the aim of helping them become self-sufficient. Services include Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) or Family Assistance, Safety Net Assistance (for single individuals or childless couples), employment and food stamp benefits. Child care subsidies are available to low income families to enable them to afford child care and continue to work. May use a registered or informal provider or a relative.

Offers information about patient rights when hospitalized, medical records review for quality of care and other information regarding health care through Medicare and Medicaid programs, including Medicaid fraud.

Investigation of fraud, potential fraud, or questionable areas within the SNAP eligibility programs of the Department of Social Services.

Determines eligibility for and administers financial assistance in the form of Medicaid, Food Stamps/SNAP, Public Assistance, Emergency Assistance, and assistance with burials; see separate listing for HEAP. Provides Welfare Fraud Hotline and places great emphasis on identifying fraudulent applications both prior to and during case opening. Also assigns activities to clients that will assist them in locating employment to end or decrease their need for assistance.

Provides a hotline available for fraud reporting, for consumers, insurance, Medicaid, landlord/tenant issues, etc. Also offers a "Tenants Rights Guide" with information about leases, safety, repairs, and rights available to both tenants and landlords.

Receives and reviews questions and complaints regarding the fraudulent use of social services funds. Makes referral of cases to the District Attorney's office when appropriate. Arranges to take liens and assignment of proceeds as required. Also recovers funds from clients. May make referrals to TPHI for recoveries. Performs vital statistic clearances for agency. Arranges client burials as required.

Investigates all complaints of fraud or misuse of all assistance programs and determines over-payments that are uncovered due to these investigations. Work is done in conjunction with the Niagara County Sheriff's Department Investigators. Also helps to prepare cases for prosecution with the Assistant District Attorney of Niagara County. Housing Unit processes all requests for additional allowance, security agreements, and help with furnishings for temporary assistance recipients. Front End Detection System (FEDS) verifies information on the application to ensure accuracy.

Investigates fraud, potential fraud, and questionable activity related to eligibility for programs of the Department of Social Services.

Child Support Services Unit provides services to locate absent non-custodial parents, establish paternity, establish court ordered child support, and enforce orders of child support. Responsible for prosecuting in Family Court all cases involving child abuse, child neglect, termination of parental rights, and court ordered support child. Legal Unit represents the Department during Fair Hearings involving reports from the State Central Registry. Also handles Adult Protective Services that may seek court orders for entry into a home, short term intervention orders and establishment of financial and/or personal guardianship for incapacitated adults. Program Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes welfare fraud; operates collection process for money owed to DSS. Child/Teen Health Program is a preventive health program which provides continuing medical care to your children.

Investigates all reported allegations of fraud in the Temporary Assistance (Welfare), SNAP (Food Stamps), Medicaid, Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), and Day Care programs. Examples of situations that are fraudulent include unreported income (either earned or unearned), hidden assets (bank accounts, property, etc.), unreported changes in household composition (either someone moved into the home or moved out), changes in shelter cost, buying and selling of SNAP or Public Benefit card (Trafficking), etc.

Provides a hotline available for fraud reporting, for consumers, insurance, Medicaid, landlord/tenant issues, etc. Also offers a "Tenants Rights Guide" with information about leases, safety, repairs, and rights available to both tenants and landlords.

Investigation of fraud, potential fraud, or questionable areas within the SNAP eligibility programs of the Department of Social Services.

Provides a hotline available for fraud reporting, for consumers, insurance, Medicaid, landlord/tenant issues, etc. Also offers a "Tenants Rights Guide" with information about leases, safety, repairs, and rights available to both tenants and landlords.