Updated 05/31/2013 9:00 a.m.
The Patrick administration is disputing claims by the state auditor that millions of welfare benefits were paid out to more than 1,000 people who were listed as dead.
State Auditor Suzanne Bump claims 1,164 dead people received welfare benefits. But in a letter, Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services John Polanowitz says Bump’s office has only provided the welfare agency with 178 cases. Of those, 13 were duplicates, 54 cases had already been closed and 79 individuals are not actually dead.
Attorney General Martha Coakley says she is looking closely at the auditors report.
“We’ve brought cases for EBT fraud against shop owners against individuals,” Coakley said. “We certainly think that if there’s a reason to bring charges, we’ll do that. We’ve done it before.”
The audit released earlier this week sparked criticism of the Patrick administration and calls for comprehensive welfare reform.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo wants photos on EBT cards to prevent card trafficking.
Senate President Therese Murray says she plans to file a bill to tackle issues plaguing the welfare system. She says welfare requirements are being waived too often and people are staying on it far longer than intended.
“This isn’t directed to penalizing people who are poor,” Murray said. “This is to get them out of poverty. Nobody should feel that they should stay in the welfare system. And, in fact, there’s a time limit for that that’s being continuously waived.”
Murray says many issues in the audit have already been addressed. In March, the DTA, the state welfare agency, unveiled a plan for ending abuse and assuring that benefits are legitimately going to those eligible to receive them. The DTA is now also matching death records with the federal government to make sure that benefits stop after a person dies.
