Welfare Inspector General, Office of

Agency Web Site: http://www.owig.state.ny.us/

Mission

The Office of Welfare Inspector General was established in 1992 to prevent, investigate, and prosecute welfare fraud, waste, abuse and illegal acts involving social services programs at both the State and local levels. The Office investigates, and when appropriate, prosecutes persons dishonestly receiving benefits for which they are not entitled. It also investigates instances in which providers of Medicaid, day care or other social services fraudulently receive payments from the government.

The agency is also responsible for investigating any failure by State and local officials to investigate and prosecute such fraud and abuse within their jurisdiction. Furthermore, the Office is charged with recommending policies to prevent and to detect social services fraud, and then to monitor the implementation of these recommendations. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Office works closely with various State agencies in support of fraud investigations.

Organization and Staffing

The Office is headed by the Welfare Inspector General, who is appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Welfare Inspector General’s statewide operations are administered from New York City with a field office in Albany.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2020 Executive Budget recommends $1.3 million All Funds appropriation. A decrease of $100,000 from the previous fiscal year, attributable to the Federal Equitable Sharing appropriations being replaced by Special Revenue Funds. The agency’s workforce totals 7 FTEs, unchanged from the previous fiscal year.

Program Highlights

The Office annually receives hundreds of complaints about alleged fraud, waste and abuse that originate from citizens and other governmental agencies. The Office also generates investigations on its own initiative. Fraud investigations result in savings for all levels of government. Recovered funding is repaid to the appropriate programs.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category	Available FY 2019	Appropriations Recommended FY 2020	Change From FY 2019	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2020
State Operations	1,412,000	1,312,000	(100,000)	0
Total	1,412,000	1,312,000	(100,000)	0

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program	FY 2019 Estimated FTEs 03/31/19	FY 2020 Estimated FTEs 03/31/20	FTE Change
Welfare Inspector General, Office of the
General Fund	7	7	0
Total	7	7	0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2019	Recommended FY 2020	Change
General Fund	1,162,000	1,162,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	100,000	0	(100,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other	150,000	150,000	0
Total	1,412,000	1,312,000	(100,000)

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2019	Recommended FY 2020	Change
Welfare Inspector General, Office of the
General Fund	1,162,000	1,162,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	100,000	0	(100,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other	150,000	150,000	0
Total	1,412,000	1,312,000	(100,000)

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried)
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Welfare Inspector General, Office of the	750,000	0	750,000	0
Total	750,000	0	750,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Supplies and Materials
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Welfare Inspector General, Office of the	412,000	0	25,000	0
Total	412,000	0	25,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Travel		Contractual Services
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Welfare Inspector General, Office of the	28,000	0	320,000	0
Total	28,000	0	320,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Equipment
Program	Amount	Change
Welfare Inspector General, Office of the	39,000	0
Total	39,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Nonpersonal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Welfare Inspector General, Office of the	150,000	(100,000)	150,000	(100,000)
Total	150,000	(100,000)	150,000	(100,000)

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/15/2019

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