Has your Income Tax or Federal payment(s) been reduced due to a debt owed to the Department of Children and Families?
The Office of Public Benefits Integrity is responsible for investigating public assistance fraud or misuse regarding the SNAP (Food Assistance), TANF (Cash Assistance), and Medicaid programs by individuals or merchants. We are dedicated to preventing, detecting, and recovering waste, fraud and abuse within the public assistance programs.
Public assistance fraud is not a victimless crime. Real people such as an elder adult who’s Social Security does not make ends meet and real families who have suffered illness or unemployment are hurt when public benefits get into the hands of criminals. Unfortunately, there are criminals who attempt to fraudulently obtain benefits for themselves or others. When someone exchanges their Food Assistance benefits for cash, either at a location that accepts EBT or with another individual (including solicitation attempts on social networking sites such as Craigslist, Facebook, or eBay), this is called Trafficking in Benefits. Trafficking is a felony in Florida!
Here’s how you can help:
Potential Public Assistance Fraud
Are you aware of someone who should not be receiving Public Assistance from the State of Florida?
- Report Potential Public Assistance Fraud Online Now
- Report Potential Public Assistance Fraud by mail or fax
- Mail to:
ACCESS Central Mail Center
Fraud Report
PO Box 1770
Ocala, FL 34478-1771 - Fax to:
850-487-0800
- Mail to:
Effective October 1, 2014, you may be eligible for a reward for providing information relating to public assistance fraud. Find out more about the Public Assistance Fraud Reward Program.
Out of State Inquiries
For Out of State Agencies seeking to verify information with Florida’s Department of Children and Families Economic Self Sufficiency Program regarding a client, please send an email to [email protected] .
More Information
For more information/resources on fraud, please visit our state partners:
- Department of Financial Services, Division of Public Assistance Fraud
- Agency for Health Care Administration, Office of the Inspector General