DAMAGE TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND
EVACUATIONS ON TOP OF ANOTHER
30 MILLION TO COVER DAMAGE TO
ROADS.
A REPORT SAYS THERE MAY
HAVE BEEN AS MUCH AS $10
MILLION IN FOOD STAMP
OVERPAYMENTS AND FRAUD AFTER
LAST YEAR'S FLOODS.
THE STATE INSPECTOR GENERAL
LOOKED INTO THAT CLAIM.
ROB BETTER KITTLE TELLS US WHAT
HE FOUND.
Reporter: TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE APPLIED FOR DISASTER
FOOD STAMPS.
THE STATE INSPECTOR GENERAL
SAYS THE STATE MAY HAVE SHELLED
OUT 10 MILLION TOO MUCH.
GREENVILLE COUNTY DIDN'T HAVE
MUCH DAMAGE, 200 PEOPLE APPLIED
FOR FEMA AID.
MORE THAN 12,000 GREENVILLE
RESIDENTS APPLIED FOR DISASTER
FOOD STAMPS.
AN AUDIT FOUND 68 CASES OF
FRAUD.
IT'S WORKING TO GET THE MONEY
BACK.
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOUND OUT
OF AN ESTIMATED $10.4 MILLION
IN OVERPAYMENTS ACROSS THE
STATE, 2-POINT MILLION WAS
FRAUD AND THE REST WAS ERRORS
MADE BY DSS OR THE PEOPLE THAT
APPLIED.
IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, DSS
SAYS ITS GOAL WAS TO QUICKLY
HELP PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE
FLOOD WHILE FOLLOWING FEDERAL
GUIDELINES.
DSS CONCURS WITH THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL'S FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS.
DSS DID FOLLOW FEDERAL
GUIDELINES AND IN SOME CASES
EXCEEDED THEM.
THEY DO NOT REQUIRE PEOPLE TO
PROVE THEY QUALIFY.
HE RECOMMENDS AFTER FUTURE
DISASTERS, DSS REQUIRE MORE
INFORMATION FROM PEOPLE THAT
APPLY AND VERIFY IT IF
POSSIBLE.
IN COLUMBIA, ROBERT KITTLE, 7
NEWS.
STATEWIDE 304,000
HOUSEHOLDS GOT FOOD STAMP
