The Standard Investigation Letter: What It Really Means
Below is the standard text of a food stamp investigation letter with a detailed explanation of each section:
NYC Department of Social Services
Human Resources Administration
Office of Program Accountability
INVESTIGATION, REVENUE AND ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION
Bureau of Fraud Investigation
375 Pearl Street, 22nd Floor, NY, NY 10038
Dear Sir or Madam:
What This Means:
This letter comes from the Bureau of Fraud Investigation, a specialized unit within NYC's Department of Social Services that investigates potential fraud in benefit programs. The formal letterhead is designed to convey authority and the serious nature of the investigation.
What You Should Know:
The Bureau of Fraud Investigation is separate from the regular benefits offices. Their sole purpose is to investigate potential fraud, not to help with your benefits. They have investigators with specialized training in detecting fraud and building cases.
This office is conducting an investigation that may lead to a finding that you owe money. Please read this letter completely and with care, so that you understand your rights.
What This Means:
This is a clear statement that you're under investigation and may be required to repay benefits. The mention of "your rights" is a legal formality that acknowledges you have certain protections during this process.
What You Should Know:
This investigation is already underway, and they likely have gathered some evidence before contacting you. The phrase "may lead to a finding that you owe money" is understated—these investigations often result in demands for repayment or worse.
This investigation is about your Supplemental Assistance Program (Snap), Medicaid or Child Health Plus (CHIP) Medical Assistance/Family Health Plus (MA/FHP) Benefits. This is based on information we have showing that you or someone in your household:
- Did not report someone in your household
- Did not report assets
- Did not report income
- Is employed and makes money you did not tell us about
- Owns property you did not tell us about
- Receives rental income you did not tell us about
- Did not report the correct residence
What This Means:
This section outlines the specific programs under investigation and the general allegations against you. The letter typically lists all possible violations, even if only one or two apply to your case.
What You Should Know:
The investigators already have specific information about your case, but they're not sharing the details with you. This vague list is designed to get you to volunteer information. They may have evidence about one issue (like unreported income) but hope you'll reveal information about other potential violations.
We scheduled an interview for you to discuss this matter with us.
Please bring your Photo ID card, this letter and the following document(s):
Bring in proof of Identity and NYC residency
Birth certificate
Marriage Certificate
Mortgage documents
School letter
Income tax documents
Pay stubs last 4 pay stubs
Deed to property
Utility bills
If you need more time to find these documents or need to reschedule the interview, call the investigator.
What This Means:
The investigators want to interview you and collect documents that could provide evidence for their case. They're requesting a wide range of personal and financial documents to verify your eligibility for benefits.
What You Should Know:
This interview is designed to gather evidence against you. The documents requested could be used to prove you received benefits you weren't entitled to. Attending this interview without legal representation is risky, as investigators are trained to elicit incriminating information.
The offer to reschedule is not as accommodating as it seems—they're simply ensuring you can't claim you didn't have enough time to prepare.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
You can bring a Food stamp fraud lawyer or another representative to assist you in resolving this matter. You can contact your bar association or a legal services organization to seek free legal representation.
You are entitled to interpretation assistance. Please let us know if you would like us to provide an interpreter in the language that you request.
You may answer questions or choose not to say anything. If you do answer questions, your benefits cannot be stopped or reduced just because you did not answer.
If our investigation finds that you were ineligible for benefits received, we may ask you to repay them. You do not have to sign a repayment agreement. However, if we do not come to an agreement, we may sue you in civil court to get back the amount owed or, in some cases, refer you for criminal prosecution.
You may still be eligible for certain benefits now even if you were not eligible in the past. If you would like to discuss your current eligibility for Medicaid, you can go to your local Medicaid office.
What This Means:
This section outlines your legal rights during the investigation, including the right to legal representation, language assistance, and the right to remain silent. It also explains potential consequences, including the possibility of criminal prosecution.
What You Should Know:
This notice contains critical information about your rights that you should take seriously:
- The mention of legal representation is important—this acknowledges the serious nature of the investigation
- Your right to remain silent is a key protection against self-incrimination and potential criminal charges
- The mention of "criminal prosecution" is not an empty threat—cases can and do get referred to the District Attorney
- The primary goal should be avoiding criminal charges, with repayment being a secondary concern
A food stamp investigator letter can also come from 151 W Broadway, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10013.
If you've received a food stamp investigation letter, don't face this alone.
Contact a food stamp fraud lawyer immediately to protect your rights and navigate this complex process.
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