Lakewood, NJ – New Jersey officials faced criticism of a program that allows residents of one county who received unwarranted Medicaid benefits to withdraw without prosecution.
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Authorities had hoped Ocean County residents who would benefit from the program would attend the seminar held Tuesday night in Toms River. But the Asbury Park Press (http://on.app.com/2xZfGJr ) reports about three dozen people showed up and accused officials of going soft on crime.
Resident Molly Hernon says she and other residents grilled state Comptroller Phillip Degnan on the merits of the pilot program. She says people are getting away with taxpayer money.
The 90-day program comes after 26 Lakewood residents in June were accused of wrongfully collecting more than $2 million in public-assistance benefits. However, the program is not open to them.
The information session on Tuesday night wasn’t mandatory for people who want to come clean, but authorities had braced for a much bigger turnout, holding the meeting in the large multi-purpose arena.
Authorities said they have reason to believe the program will be popular. Lakewood officials have been deluged with calls for help from hundreds of concerned residents wanting to terminate their benefits because they were concerned about the possibility of being arrested.
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Information from: Asbury Park (N.J.) Press, http://www.app.com
Ellul…..ay yay ay….ellul….mi darf tshuvah torn……ellul….!!!!
I hope they go after the Latino’s who earn cash yet collect governement programs for their children as well.
I would hope there is no racial profiling thereby only targeting jews.
Totally understand the low turnout
For various reasons ( shidduch and just simple embarrassment) no one wants to be seen at an amnesty convention
> She says people are getting away with taxpayer money.
Other media report that those already arrested are not eligible. The so-called amnesty (available only to those not already arrested) involves full restitution plus a civil penalty (a “fine”) as well as a full year withdrawal from the Medicaid programs. This saves the taxpayer the costs of investigations and trial while being more than reimbursed for any alleged taxpayer money.
Do the people who ask about amnesty regret stealing or are they just afraid of the consequences. Oy vey!
I really wonder if these people actually did anything wrong. I personally couldn’t get on Medicaid, although I’ve tried because I earn “too much” and I really don’t earn enough to live on and be able to afford health insurance. I haven’t had health insurance for 20 years because I can’t afford it and I am too “well off” to get Medicaid!
The amnesty is a scam. They have to pay loads of money, plus they open themselves to prosecution by the IRS and NJ tax man.
I am rabidly anti all the genaiva and lying but the government puts people into terrible positions. Health insurance costs crazy amounts and if someone is all legal and on the books between the taxes they pay and the cost of health insurance many people literally would have no money left to spend on daily expenses such as food. The goverment makes it not worth it to work and certainly very tempting to work off the books. I know many people who don’t work because then they would lose their programs and they can’t make enough to make it worth it. As someone who both husband and wife work and still barely make ends meet it is very discouraging. The government needs to wake up and do something to fix the situation!!!!