3011      FRAUD

HAPHeating Assistance Program must be responsive to reports of fraud committed by clients and by vendors.

A. Vendor Fraud

Types of vendor fraud include:

• Vendors who do not credit the entire HAPHeating Assistance Program grant to the clients' account(s);

• Vendors who discriminate, either in cost of goods supplied or the services provided, against the household receiving HAPHeating Assistance Program;

• The Vendor agrees that no household receiving heating assistance will be treated adversely because of such assistance under applicable provision of the State law or public regulatory requirements;

• Vendors who knowingly dispense HAPHeating Assistance Program purchased fuel to a client who they know is selling, sharing, or trading their HAPHeating Assistance Program purchased fuel.

• Vendors who fail to follow the conditions regarding the allowable uses for HAPHeating Assistance Program funds, how to apply HAPHeating Assistance Program payments to clients' accounts, and when to refund money back to HAPHeating Assistance Program for clients' who have closed their account. These conditions are covered in each vendors' signed Heating Assistance Vendor Agreement.

B. Client Fraud

Client fraud is committed when:

• An applicant intentionally makes false statements, misrepresents facts, or misrepresent situations to get benefits a household is not eligible to receive.

• Clients do not report all income received by their household.

• Applicants misrepresent the number of people in their household.

• Applicants misrepresent the type of dwelling they live in, total square footage, and/or the number of heated bedrooms in their home.

• Clients do not live in the home for which they apply for heating assistance.

• Clients sell or barter fuel paid for with Heating Assistance benefits.

• Clients give away or share fuel or services paid for with Heating Assistance benefits. 

If a household is found to commit fraud they will be asked to repay the benefits they received. If they do not repay the benefits the amount due will be withheld from future heating assistance payments made to the household until the total overpayment is recouped.

A witness to fraudulent behavior can verbally report to DPADivision of Public Assistance's VCCVirtual Contact Center at 1-800-478-7778 or submit a report in writing via email to hss.dpa.offices@alaska.gov.