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    Shapiro Administration Prevents $179 Million in Public Benefits Fraud

    March 05, 2026

    Harrisburg, PA – The Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) announced today that since the beginning of the Shapiro Administration it has investigated over 62,000 applications for public assistance fraud, preventing nearly $179 million worth of public benefits from being distributed to those not entitled to assistance. In 2025 alone, after investigating nearly 20,000 applications, it saved taxpayers over $61 million. This work stops fraud from happening before payments are distributed to people who don’t qualify for them.

    "Preventing fraud and protecting taxpayer dollars are at the heart of our mission," said State Inspector General Michelle A. Henry. "When we stop fraud before it happens, we’re making sure that public funds go where they’re truly needed, to support Pennsylvanians who rely on these vital programs. We remain vigilant in detecting fraud and stopping it at the source.”

    OSIG and the Department of Human Services (DHS) work together to prevent public assistance fraud. DHS refers clients to OSIG who are identified for additional review to ensure that those clients qualify for the benefits they are receiving. After an investigation, OSIG provides an investigative report so that DHS can determine the correct amount of benefits – if any – a client should receive.

    “DHS takes seriously our responsibility to protect essential programs and services by being careful stewards of taxpayer dollars and to ensure that public benefits programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid are available to eligible Pennsylvanians,” said DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. “Program integrity is crucial to protecting the Commonwealth’s financial resources and the innocent Pennsylvanians who these programs help, and we are proud to work with our partners in the Office of State Inspector General every day to prevent fraud and theft of these life-sustaining benefits.”

    Governor Josh Shapiro has made fighting public assistance fraud a cornerstone of his Administration. As Pennsylvania Attorney General, he prosecuted dozens of individuals who fraudulently obtained public benefits. In his 2026-27 Budget Address, Governor Shapiro called for a Pennsylvania False Claims Act, which would allow the Commonwealth to collect additional damages and recoup more state dollars that would otherwise be lost to fraud.

    Since the beginning of the Shapiro Administration, DHS and OSIG worked together to investigate 62,626 applications for assistance, producing savings of $178,827,990.

    2025 Fraud Prevention Fast Figures:

    • 1,099,740 public benefits applications processed by DHS.
    • 19,800 of those applications referred to OSIG for review.
    • 7,965 clients received a reduction in their benefits, 0.72% of the total number of applicants.
    • $61,032,360 tax dollars saved by this cross-agency fraud prevention work.

    The public can contribute to OSIG’s work by summitting tips about suspected public assistance fraud online, by phone, or mail. Concerned Pennsylvanians can join OSIG’s mission to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure the integrity of the Commonwealth’s public assistance programs. Anonymously report suspected public assistance fraud on the OSIG website or call the Public Assistance Fraud Tipline: 1-800-932-0582.

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