How PA Is Policing Benefit Fraud & Theft

The Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector General has filed public benefits theft charges totaling more than $10 million against nearly 1,500 individuals since early 2023, state officials announced.

The charges, which target fraud related to Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) programs, are a partnership between the OSIG and DHS to vet applications and monitor existing cases.

Since January 2023, the office has charged 1,495 individuals with public assistance theft worth $10,008,807.

The OSIG reported a resolution rate of more than 95% for these cases through convictions, guilty pleas, or other legal dispositions.

“These cases highlight OSIG’s commitment to stopping theft, protecting tax dollars, and keeping Pennsylvania’s public benefits programs running with integrity,” said State Inspector General Michelle Henry, the state’s former attorney general and ex-Bucks County district attorney. “OSIG will continue to pursue these criminals and protect the programs that serve our most vulnerable to ensure that those who steal from Pennsylvania taxpayers are held accountable.”

State officials have received nearly 20,000 benefit applications in 2025.

According to officials, the reviews led to the reduction or denial of benefits in 7,965 cases and returned $61 million to state programs.

DHS staff screen applications against 15 different state and federal data checks, a process that identifies roughly half of all applicants as ineligible.

Recent actions include charges filed last week by special agents against several individuals in Bucks County.

In major case from December 2025, the OSIG and the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office charged dozens of people following a multi-year probe into the Quick Stop Convenience Store.

Authorities allege the store owner used a “rogue” payment terminal to process $775,677 in fraudulent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) transactions over three years. The owner had previously been banned from the program.

Despite the crackdown, officials stated that fraud represents a small fraction of the program’s overall reach. SNAP provides more than $300 million in monthly benefits to 1.7 million Pennsylvanians.

“The Shapiro Administration is committed to protecting these public resources, and our strong partnership with OSIG is integral to maintaining the responsible stewardship of these essential programs,” said DHS Secretary Val Arkoosh.

According to the USDA’s Economic Research Center, every $1 issued in SNAP benefits generates $1.54 for Pennsylvania’s economy by supporting more than 10,600 retailers and the state’s agricultural sector.

People charged with public benefit theft face disqualification from receiving future public benefits, officials said.

Suspected fraud can be reported anonymously via the OSIG website or through the Public Assistance Fraud Tipline at 1-800-932-0582.

Beyond fraud investigations, the OSIG performs executive-level background checks for the governor’s office, conducts judicial candidate investigations, and provides compliance training for state grants. The office also investigates reports of fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct in state agencies.