Montana Agency Gets $425,000 to Help Detect Welfare Fraud

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The Montana Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has received a 2024 SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Fraud Framework Implementation Grant for $425,000 to assist in the investigation of fraud, abuse and waste in state and federal public assistance programs.

I spoke with DPHHS Program Compliance Bureau Chief Heather Smith about the individuals tasked with ferreting out waste and abuse within the system.

Montana DPHHS Working to Stop Welfare Fraud in the State

“We call them ‘program integrity investigators’, and they receive referrals for recipients’ fraud allegations, and we review those allegations,” began Smith. “We are reviewing the information that comes in and then comparing that to the data that the recipient has provided the Office of Public Assistance for their public assistance benefits, and then we cross check that against information that we have access to.”

Smith referred to the federal program being used to help stop welfare and public assistance fraud.

“The SNAP Fraud Framework grant is an opportunity for states to submit proposals of what we would like to do,” she said. “So for Montana, we submitted the plan of bolstering our collection of online submission information, and what we hope to find with that. Montana was one of 10 successful recipients this year across the United States to receive this grant money.”

Every Effort is Being Made to Stop Welfare Fraud in Montana

Smith said every effort is being used to stop the welfare fraud that is wasting millions of taxpayer dollars around the country.

“We're reviewing these cases,” she said “We try very hard to get to them in a timely manner so that we could stop those inappropriate benefits from continuing to issue. Stopping them early is very important to ensuring that the taxpayer funds are being spent appropriately. My team will work primarily on SNAP, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and Medicaid benefits.”

Find Important Contact Information Below

Smith provided important contact information for anyone who suspects that fraud is taking place in Montana.

“We encourage any and everyone to report, and we do look at every referral that comes in,” she said. “We have two really great options. One is 1-800-201-6308, and that goes right to our Recipient Fraud Hotline."

Click here to contact the agency via email.