Buffalo News (Opinion): Fraud prevention is the key to strengthen...

Lucy Lang

February 10, 2025

With temperatures barely making it out of the teens across New York State in recent weeks, this was the worst time possible for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) to announce it had exhausted the federal funds it had been allocated to heat low-income New Yorkers' homes.

This crisis highlights the vulnerability of programs like this, as well as the critical nature of fraud prevention in this and other public assistance programs.

As the agency charged with overseeing New York's public assistance programs, New Yorkers have long turned to our hotline at the Offices of the Inspector General with heartbreaking complaints about HEAP. In one case, a resident went without heating oil for so long that her pipes burst, and tragically, her pet succumbed to the cold. Despite assurances from local officials that funds had been sent to her for fuel, no payment was made, leaving her household in a dire situation.

While this particular failure was unrelated to the recent funding emergency, it brings into stark focus the human consequences when public assistance programs are unable, for whatever reason, to fulfill their mission fully. This, if not for the governor's $35 million emergency infusion of HEAP funding, is what would have happened to countless families, seniors, and people with disabilities would have been left to face the cold without the critical support on which they depend.

This unexpected disaster underscores the importance of not just increased funding but also fraud prevention and oversight help make sure that public assistance dollars go where they are truly needed. As New York State Inspector General, I've witnessed firsthand how fraud, inefficiency, and waste undermine the sustainability of public programs such as HEAP, unemployment and workers' compensation insurance, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, among others.

Fraud prevention is key. Every dollar diverted from would-be fraudsters is an additional dollar in the pocket of cold or hungry New York families to provide meals, heating, electricity, and other essentials. Fraud detection isn't secondary - it's the most responsible and effective way to safeguard the safety net provided by public assistance programs and to maximize their impact.

Fraud prevention in public assistance programs does far more than prevent theft - it protects the integrity of the system, enhances public trust, and safeguards limited funds for the benefit of those who need them most. Strong oversight mechanisms, regular audits, and data-driven monitoring help guarantee that funds are distributed fairly, efficiently, and accurately.

Making fraud prevention a priority sends a strong message - public programs must uphold the highest standards of integrity. When funds are distributed correctly, they stretch further and help more people. In a program as vital as HEAP, every misallocated dollar is a missed opportunity to assist a household struggling to stay warm.

Looking out my office window at the icy Empire State Plaza and dreading going out into the cold myself tonight, there can be no doubt that this winter's HEAP crisis must be a wake-up call. Policymakers should prioritize both funding and oversight to prevent future shortfalls. For their part, all New Yorkers who suspect fraud, corruption, or abuse in the state's welfare system should report it to 1-800-DO-RIGHT. Supporting fraud detection protects the program's integrity, helps limited resources reach further, and ultimately will further the goal of leaving no New Yorker out in the cold.

Lucy Lang serves as New York State's Inspector General, Welfare Inspector General, and Workers' Compensation Fraud Inspector General.