Fraud Control
Overview
The Department of Health's Fraud Control Unit is responsible for investigating welfare fraud. When complaints are received, they look into cases where people applying for or receiving benefits—such as Alaska Temporary Assistance, Food Stamps, Medicaid, and Adult Public Assistance—might be providing false information.
Press Releases
- Four Non-Alaskan Residents Indicted for Defrauding the Adult Public Assistance Program
- Five Additional Non-Alaskan Residents Charged for Defrauding the Adult Public Assistance Program
- Fraud Charges Brought Against 40 Individuals by the Alaska Department of Law and U.S. Attorney's Office
- Store Owner Jailed for Food Program Fraud
Fraud Control Unit FY 2023 Accomplishments
Stop Food Stamp Trafficking Poster
Submit a Fraud Allegation Report
Fraud Prevention and Deterrence
The Fraud Control Unit works with the Department of Law’s Welfare Fraud Section to prevent welfare fraud. They take complaints, investigate cases, and send the most serious ones to the Department of Law for criminal prosecution. Fraud Control staff are located in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai, and Wasilla.
Applicant Fraud Control
The Fraud Control Unit helps stop people that are trying to commit fraud from getting approved for assistance. Caseworkers can refer suspicious applications to the unit. Investigators quickly do home visits and check any questionable information before deciding if someone is eligible for benefits.
Recipient Fraud Control
The Fraud Control Unit looks into claims of fraud by people receiving ATAP, Food Stamps, and Medicaid benefits. Many cases are handled by disqualifying people from the programs and getting back the money that was wrongly spent. More serious cases, like those involving large amounts of money or clear fraud, are sent to the Department of Law for criminal prosecution.
Fraud Penalties
Anyone suspected of welfare fraud are presented with the investigation findings and given the option of accepting program disqualification and repaying the debt or facing an Administrative Disqualification Hearing to determine if fraud occurred. People that intentionally violate program rules are disqualified from the program for a specified time, must pay back benefits, and can face time in jail.
- 1st Offense ATAP: 6-month disqualification
- 1st Offense Food Stamps: 12-month disqualification
- 2nd Offense ATAP: 12-month disqualification
- 2nd Offense Food Stamps: 24-month disqualification
- 3rd Offense ATAP/Food Stamps: Permanent disqualification
Overpayment Collection
The division sets up claims for fraud losses and recovers these debts. The recovery methods include garnishing permanent fund dividends, reduction of current benefits, federal income tax refund interception (food stamps only), garnishing wages and the filing of small claims.