March 6, 2025
ALBANY, NY – New York State Welfare Inspector General Lucy Lang today announced the release of the Office of the Welfare Inspector General’s (OWIG) 2024 Annual Report, highlighting key investigations and enforcement efforts to combat fraud and abuse in the state’s public assistance programs. The report underscores OWIG’s commitment to protecting public resources and ensuring the integrity of New York’s welfare system.
“The OWIG Annual Report reflects our dedication to safeguarding public assistance programs from fraud and abuse,” said New York State Welfare Inspector General Lucy Lang. “We understand the critical role these programs play for the most vulnerable New Yorkers, and we are committed to ensuring that benefits remain available to those who truly need them.”
Since IG Lang appointed Andrew Weiss OWIG’s Attorney-in-Charge (AIC) in August 2024, AIC Weiss has placed a strong emphasis on oversight practices, focusing on investigations, agency collaboration, and comprehensive training initiatives. Under his leadership, OWIG handled 990 complaints statewide in 2024, exposing fraudulent schemes including everything from identity theft to exploit pandemic unemployment insurance, to misrepresentation of income and employment status to unlawfully collect disability and SNAP benefits. These efforts resulted in nine prosecutions, pleas, and sentencings, with nearly $600,000 in court-ordered restitution.
OWIG also expanded its investigative reach through interagency collaboration, working with local, state, and federal partners. OWIG’s Managing Investigator Jason Fazio served on the Department of Justice’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, and Inspector General Lang met with then-U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Inspector General Larry Turner to reinforce joint efforts against unemployment insurance fraud. With DOL’s Office of the Inspector General identifying nearly $47 billion in potential fraud and over 2,000 pandemic-related criminal charges since 2020, these partnerships highlight OWIG’s commitment to independent oversight and financial accountability.
In addition to enforcement efforts, OWIG provided training and support to local social services districts, assisted in eligibility reviews, and responded to public and investigative inquiries related to social services access, child welfare, and benefit eligibility.
For more updates on OWIG’s work, follow @NewYorkStateIG on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Allegations of welfare fraud, abuse, misconduct, or waste can be reported by calling 1-800-DO-RIGHT, submitting a report online at ig.ny.gov, or sending a direct message on social media.
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