The Investigations Unit’s mission is to ensure program integrity and safeguard public assistance funds at the county level through the prevention, detection, and investigation of welfare fraud and recovery of misspent funds.
Some examples of the most common types of welfare fraud are:
- Absent Parent in the home
- Unreported income
- Ineligible child(ren)
- Child(ren) not living in the home
Welfare or public assistance benefits provide financial assistance to people unable to afford food, utility or housing costs. The State of California imposes legal and financial penalties for welfare fraud. Penalties may apply to welfare recipients as well as to the people who administer public assistance benefits.