TheRepublic.com - Welfare benefits News

Lisbon man gets 4 years for identity fraud

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:25:32 -0400

PORTLAND, Maine - A Lisbon man who used his own child's Social Security number in a scheme to illegally receive welfare benefits has been sentenced to four years in prison.

21 NE Ind. residents charged in welfare fraud scam

Sat, 18 May 2013 13:53:06 -0400

FORT WAYNE, Indiana - Northeastern Indiana authorities have charged 21 people in a welfare fraud scam alleging that they illegally exploited welfare benefits to stock a Fort Wayne restaurant's pantry shelves.

Mass. lawmaker: Recoup benefits from terrorists

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:13:04 -0400

BOSTON - A Republican lawmaker is pushing for a law allowing Massachusetts to recoup public benefits given to anyone later convicted of using of a weapon of mass destruction.

Nev. couple sentenced in Ore. welfare fraud case

Fri, 17 May 2013 01:48:07 -0400

OREGON CITY, Oregon - An Oregon judge has sentenced a Nevada couple who received $229,000 in unjustified payments from state and county agencies and an insurance company.

Mo. bill to curb welfare fraud sent to Nixon

Thu, 16 May 2013 20:44:17 -0400

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri - Missouri welfare recipients could not spend their cash benefits at casinos, liquor stores or adult-entertainment establishments under legislation sent to Gov. Jay Nixon on Thursday.

Fed official to attend SD summit on tribal welfare

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:38:31 -0400

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota - President Barack Obama's top official on tribal issues was expected to attend a summit this week in South Dakota aimed at sorting out allegations that the state regularly violates federal law by removing American Indian children from their homes and placing them in foster care with non-Indian families.

Arizona House to restrict use of welfare benefits

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:10:12 -0400

PHOENIX - The Arizona House of Representatives has passed a bill that prohibits the use of welfare benefits at liquor, gambling and adult entertainment businesses.

New DCF technology cracks down on welfare fraud

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:22:06 -0400

MIAMI - Department of Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins announced Tuesday that Florida would become the first state in the country to use new technology to crack down on food stamp and other welfare fraud.

Corbett aide can't see Medicaid expansion in 2014

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:54:21 -0400

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania - A top aide to Gov. Tom Corbett said expanding Medicaid eligibility in Pennsylvania under a sweeping federal health care law probably would not take effect before January 2015, even if the governor embraces the idea that would provide taxpayer-paid health care insurance to hundreds of thousands of residents.

Welfare worker suspended in sex-for-benefits case

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:16:36 -0400

PITTSBURGH - A state welfare caseworker has been suspended while the Department of Public Welfare cooperates with prosecutors who charge the man tried to swap benefits for sex with female clients.

Maine bill gives job training for welfare

Sun, 12 May 2013 08:40:20 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine House and Senate votes are expected soon on a bill to ensure that welfare recipients get the tools and training they need to enter the workforce and secure long-term employment.

Missing Yakima man's girlfriend charged with fraud

Sat, 11 May 2013 17:29:29 -0400

YAKIMA, Washington - The girlfriend of a man missing from Yakima for nearly three and a half years has been charged with welfare fraud.

Businessman admits taking illegal welfare benefits

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:04:04 -0400

PORTLAND, Maine - A Portland man who drew a six-figure salary has pleaded guilty to making false statements to obtain Medicaid, foods stamps and federal housing assistance funds.

Welfare-to-work focus of Vt. budget debate

Thu, 02 May 2013 19:40:44 -0400

MONTPELIER, Vermont - The Vermont Senate on Thursday passed a nearly $1.4 billion general fund budget for fiscal 2014 that places time limits on the state's Reach Up welfare-to-work program for the first time.

Correction: Welfare-Michigan story

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:07:04 -0400

LANSING, Michigan - In the first version of a story May 1 about the Michigan House approving changes for welfare recipients, The Associated Press misstated the monthly benefit for a family of three. The story should have reflected a maximum monthly benefit of $492, not an average benefit of $429.

Vt. Senate committee approves $1.36 b budget

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:07:42 -0400

MONTPELIER, Vermont - Budget writers in the Vermont Senate have completed work on their version of a fiscal 2014 state budget that includes new limits on a key welfare-to-work program.

Preparations continue to drug-test for welfare

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:28:14 -0400

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee authorities are preparing to test welfare recipients for drug abuse.

Alabama Senate approves welfare drug testing

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:10:23 -0400

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - The Alabama Senate is calling for drug testing of welfare recipients with a history of using illegal drugs.

Mo. department backing down on welfare contract

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:39:02 -0400

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri - In a letter to House Republicans Tuesday the Missouri Department of Social Services backed down on its efforts to move people from welfare programs onto disability payments funded by the federal government.

State: Marathon bombing suspects once on welfare

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:35:05 -0400

BOSTON - The suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings killed in a shootout with police received welfare benefits from the state up until last year when he became ineligible based on family income.