Welfare Fraud Tipline
1-844-DHS-TIPS
Identifying and eliminating welfare fraud requires dedicated teamwork between the Department of Human Services and the Office of Inspector General. The department is responsible for overseeing its programs for any suspected waste, fraud, and abuse and sends suspicious data to the Office of Inspector General for review and potentially an investigation. Individuals who suspect welfare fraud or abuse in Pennsylvania should call the welfare fraud hotline at 1-844-DHS-TIPS.
- Report Provider Fraud
- Report Recipient Fraud
The OIG inspects recipient fraud. Click the "Report Recipient Fraud" button above if you know someone who receives: cash assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly known as Food Stamps), Heating/Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), child care, Medical Assistance or other public benefits AND that person is not reporting income, not reporting ownership of resources or property, not reporting who lives in their household, allowing another person to use his or her ACCESS card, trafficking SNAP benefits or taking advantage of the system in any way.
DHS inspects provider fraud. Click the "Report Provider Fraud" button above if you see any of these examples of Provider Fraud and Abuse (including but not limited to):
Falsifying Claims/Encounters
- Billing for services not rendered
- Billing separately for services in lieu of an available combination code
- Misrepresentation of the service/supplies rendered (billing brand name for a generic drug, upcoding to more expensive service than was rendered, billing for more time or units of service than provided)
- Altering claims
- Submission of any false data on claims, such as date of service, provider or prescriber of service
- Duplicate billing for the same service
- Billing for services provided by unlicensed or unqualified persons
- Billing for used items as new
Abuse of Recipients
- Physical, mental, emotional or sexual abuse
- Discrimination
- Neglect
- Providing substandard or inappropriate care
Between the period May 1, 2018, through April 30, 2019, the welfare fraud hotline has:
- Received 14,590 tip complaints tips are communicated through the toll-free welfare fraud tip line, regular mail, or via the web.
- Of the complaints received, 2,465 field investigations were conducted by the Office of Inspector General.
- Investigations resulted in $7,405,140 in costs avoided by DHS.
Data provided by the Office of Inspector General
Find out more about the Inspector General's current investigations and prosecutions in the links below.