Bilbray Urges Doubling Welfare Fraud Investigator Force

Supervisor Brian Bilbray on Wednesday called for a doubling of the number of San Diego County welfare fraud investigators and support staff to ferret out fraud by welfare recipients and Department of Social Services employees.

In addition, Bilbray also asked county Chief Administrative Officer Norman Hickey to investigate reports that some employees in the fraud investigations office have prevented internal probes of wrongdoing by other employees.

“Growing public concern over the extent of welfare fraud in this county, and continued allegations by county employees of internal problems thwarting investigations, require an immediate and thorough response,” Bilbray said in a two-page letter to the Board of Supervisors.

Board members will debate Bilbray’s recommendations Tuesday.

Bilbray also noted that the county has budgeted only 29.5 positions for welfare fraud investigators, even though state officials have recommended the county hire an additional 25 investigators and three clerks.

According to Bilbray’s letter, a new state law authorizes the state to pay for the additional investigators and employees.

The supervisor also called for the establishment of an 800 number to replace the existing fraud hot line to encourage the public and employees to report incidents of fraud.

Joan Zinser, Department of Social Services deputy director, said she is “very comfortable” with Bilbray’s recommendations.

“We look forward to the CAO’s investigation and support the call for additional positions for the fraud staff,” Zinser said. “ . . . We take fraud very seriously and want the taxpayers’ money to be used correctly and appropriately.”