Report Criticizes Social Services Anti-Fraud Efforts

More than five years after an initial audit, the California Department of Social Services still needs to improve its anti-fraud efforts in the welfare and food stamp systems. That's according to a new report out Tuesday from the State Auditor. It shows just one of 15 recommendations made in 2009 has been fully implemented.

Margarita Fernández is with the auditor’s office. She says the recommendations were designed to benefit counties, which run the programs.

"Some fraud exists and federal law requires that states develop ways to detect fraud in the programs," she says. "So the recommendations that were made really were geared toward ensuring that counties were receiving benefits from all the resources that they’re spending."

In a statement the Department says it’s committed to promoting program integrity and regularly coordinates with counties to support anti-fraud efforts and share best practices in fraud prevention.