MANSFIELD — Sharlene Neumann is serious about cracking down on welfare fraud.
The executive director of Richland County Job & Family Services met with county commissioners Tuesday to gain approval for relatively routine contracts — and to highlight May as Welfare Fraud Month in Ohio.
Each year, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services disburses more than $2 billion in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, more than $200 million in Ohio Works First cash assistance and more than $600 million in child care provider subsidies.
People who mislead caseworkers or provide false information on an application for benefits account for a small percentage of the funding disbursed, statistics show.
It’s not hard to figure some residents try to take advantage of the system to gain improper benefits. But it’s not a good idea in Richland County, according to Neumann, joined at the meeting by local business manager Carmen Torrence.
“We are the top county in the State of Ohio in terms of going after welfare fraud,” Neumann said. “We have a supervisor (Linda Pesch) who gets up every day and comes in early (to ferret out illegal benefit recipients).
“Our statistics far exceed the rest of the state. We are tough on it. Absolutely. We encourage the community to report suspected welfare fraud by calling our hotline (419 774-7867).”
Neumann said the ODJFS gives each county $2,000 annually to spend on marketing the importance of reporting welfare fraud. Neumann said her department has used a variety of topics in the past, focusing this year on purchasing and distributing piggy banks with the “welfare fraud reporting is easy” theme.
She has also spent funds to boost informational posts on the agency’s Facebook site.
“Our calls do go up during (May),” Neumann said.
Applicants and recipients of public assistance programs are encouraged to report their circumstances accurately and timely in order to avoid facing potential criminal charges, program disqualification and repayment of benefits issued improperly, according to ODJFS.
Among other actions on Tuesday, commissioners:
— Discussed the recent two-year state budget bill recently approved by the Ohio House and now being debated in the Senate. The bill includes 100 percent reimbursement from the state for indigent defendants’ legal fees. Those fees cost Richland County $600,000 last year and the change in state law could make a difference in the county’s general fund this year, if approved and signed by Gov. Mike DeWine, according to Commissioner Marilyn John. The new state budget would take effect July 1.
— Postponed discussion of a new school resource officer for Crestview Schools until Thursday when Sheriff Steve Sheldon and his staff will attend to discuss department budget issues.
— Discussed inviting all elected trustees from Madison, Washington, Springfield and Mifflin townships, along with leaders of the county’s soil and water conservation district, to a public meeting to discuss the best ways to comply with EPA stormwater regulations.
