This page is dedicated to covering Food Stamp fraud in Georgia. You will find everything you need to know about how to Report Food Stamp Fraud, what the penalties and punishments are for fraud, and stay up to date on the State’s crackdown on Food Stamps/EBT Fraud.
How to Report Food Stamp Fraud in Georgia
If you have witnessed Food Stamps fraud or are suspicious of fraudulent activity in Georgia, you can report this to the authorities for investigation. There are two ways to do that. You can file a report with the USDA’s Office of Inspector General, which is the federal government office that investigates cases of SNAP/Food Stamp fraud. You can also file a report with the Georgia Department of Human Service’s Office of Inspector General. For more on this process and how to file your complaint, click here to see our detailed article, which includes what happens after you have filed the complaint.
Lying on Georgia Food Stamps Application
Lying on food stamps application is is illegal. The number one source of fraud on food stamps application is undisclosed income. this is where some people try to cheat the system by not report all their personal income, neglecting to report income for other members of their household, or not reporting income for absent parent, or worse, not reporting that you are receiving food stamps benefits in another state. See our article covering lying on GA food stamps applications and the consequences you may face if you are caught.
What are the Penalties for Food Stamp Fraud in Georgia?
You are required to disclose all household income when applying for or renewing food stamp benefits. If caught, you could face severe penalties. In addition, trafficking in food stamps (the selling or buying food stamps benefits for cash) is illegal. If you have committed food stamps fraud or know someone who has and are wondering what the penalties are, here is what you need to know:
In the state of Georgia, your punishment for food stamps fraud depends on the extent of your crime, how much money you received that you were not entitled to and whether you are a repeat offender. You could be banned from the program for a period of time, face probation and pay restitution, or face jail time or a combination of all of these. Read our detailed article explaining the penalties for EBT Fraud. If you have already been contacted by the authorities, you should probably consult a lawyer immediately.