Fraud and Abuse of Social Service Programs Reduced

COURT HOUSE — Since becoming a county department only six months ago, positive changes have been reported at the Cape May County Department of Social Services. Tighter controls and stricter enforcement have been implemented and they are paying off to the benefit of those in the county who are genuinely in need. Increased staffing has attributed to help streamline client processing and most noticeably, it has enhanced the fraud detection unit at the Social Services Department. This has resulted in improved services and reduced fraud and abuse of social service programs and services.
Freeholder Kristine Gabor, who oversees Health and Human Services, and the Department of Social Services, reported that her staff has been working closely with the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office to identify abuse and take legal action.
“I would like to publicly express my thanks to the prosecutor’s office for working with us and social services to prosecute individuals fraudulently collecting benefits. In a time when more people are in desperate need of help, and taxes are at an all-time high, we cannot afford to allow people to collect taxpayer funded benefits when they are not eligible”, Gabor said.
Accounts of fraud and abuse were reported to Gabor, who, working with Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor, took immediate action to have the charges investigated and those individuals found to be abusing the system charged. “Rampant fraud must stop, and I am grateful to Prosecutor Taylor, his team, and the investigators at social services for their swift response to my request for them to target social services fraud in Cape May County” Gabor added.
For information about services and programs offered by the Cape May County Board of Social Services go to www.cmcbss.com