Welfare Fraud

Please use this form to notify the Department if you believe that someone is receiving Temporary Assistance, Food Stamps, HEAP, Medical Assistance, or Day Care benefits to which they are not entitled. You are not required to provide your name to report welfare fraud and the protection of your identity is a priority to us. You may be contacted should we need additional information to assist in the investigation.

About Welfare Fraud

Welfare fraud is a crime in New York State and the Chemung County Department of Human Services (the Department) takes acts of welfare fraud very seriously. Acts of welfare fraud include deliberately providing a false statement, submitting a document that contains false information, or the intentional concealment of information such as wages, resources, household composition, etc., that may result in an overpayment of social service program benefits. Upon conviction, the penalties for welfare fraud may include community service, restitution, probation, and disqualification from public assistance programs. In some instances, a welfare fraud conviction may even result in imprisonment.

Special Investigations Unit

The Department has a special unit, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), that is responsible for receiving referrals or complaints of welfare fraud in Chemung County. The SIU investigates all allegations of welfare fraud and refers all founded cases to the District Attorney's Office for criminal prosecution or to the County Attorney's Office for civil prosecution.

If you suspect someone is committing welfare fraud, we encourage you to report it to us today.

Use the email form below or call the Chemung County Fraud Hotline 607-737-5352

Use the email form above
Chemung County Department of Human Services
Special Investigations Unit
P.O. Box 588
Elmira, NY 14902

Thank you in helping us fight welfare fraud and protecting the integrity of our Social Services programs.