Public benefit fraud is defined as the intentional misrepresentation, concealment, or nondisclosure of material facts in order to participate in government funded benefits, which includes Public Assistance, SNAP (food stamps), and Medicaid.

Fraud can be committed by either a client or provider.

Public Assistance fraud includes, but is not limited to, failing to alert or report to the Agency any of the following:

• Income
• Ownership of a house/business
• Bank account
• Benefits received but not entitled to
• Vehicles
• Receiving benefits for a child when the child is actually living somewhere else

SNAP (food stamps) fraud includes, but is not limited to: 

• Giving documents to the Agency that have been changed and/or have any false information, such as income, resources and household size
• Selling SNAP benefits for money, drugs, and other prohibited items through an Electronic Benefit Transfer card
• Buying EBT benefits for cash or other prohibited items

Medicaid fraud includes, but is not limited to: 

• Lying about income or household members on an application
• Selling or loaning Electronic Benefits Transfer cards for others to use
• Providing forged prescriptions
• Pharmacies that bill Medicaid for medications not prescribed

If you suspect or know:

• That your card or card number has been stolen;
• That someone not authorized by you has gained access to your PIN; or
• That someone has gained information about your identity that may result in your benefits being stolen

Then you must first contact EBT Customer Service to report your EBT card stolen.

EBT Customer Service will deactivate your card so that no one else can use it.

Only by first contacting EBT Customer Service to deactivate your EBT card can you protect yourself against potential benefit theft.