JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Taxpayers shelled out more than $5-billion last year to support the food stamp program in Florida.
3-million Floridians rely on public assistance. In Duval County alone, close to 175,000 people are receiving food stamps right now.
That's compared to a little more than 44,000 just 8 years ago according to the Department of Children and Families. It reflects the increasing number of people living in poverty.
In 2010, 46.2 million people were living in poverty in the United States. That's up 15.1 million from 10 years ago according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
"We have seen an increase in need," said John Harrell with the Department of Children and Families.
The numbers are sobering. One out of four adults and nearly one out of three children in Duval County receive food stamp assistance.
"And if they didn't have that assistance, they could very well go hungry. They need this," said Harrell.
It's need that adds up. The average food stamp weekly amount per individual in Northeast Florida is $31.19. In Duval County alone, that's about $5.5 million a week.
"We want to be using the taxpayer's resources properly," said Harrell.
So are those resources being used properly? We found out some people attempt to get more than their fair share.
"It disturbs us," said Harrell, "It disturbs us when we hear about people who may be cheating the system."
John Harrell with the Department of Children and Families said cheating the system isn't anything new, but it is consistent and growing.
"There's a lot of people who are thinking, hey, maybe there are people getting food stamps that shouldn't be getting them at all. That's not really the case," said Harrell.
Harrell said the biggest forms of fraud right now are recipients lying to get more money, not reporting changes in income, or failing to alert DCF that someone else has moved into the home.
"We're talking about a small percentage of the population for the most part," said Harrell.
DCF investigates every tip of potential fraud. If it checks out, it's reported to law enforcement.
We requested numbers from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. As of October, 73 people were sent to jail in 2011 for offenses including fraud by impersonation and making false statements for receipt of public aid.
"Certainly we're putting this information out there that we need people to be honest and up front with us," said Harrell.
DCF is now ramping up it's efforts even more with better identity detection technology and something called Operation Strike Force which is a partnership to strengthen their fight against fraud.
"With these partnerships with law enforcement agencies and more information sharing, we're confident that we're going to be able to stop this problem more often," said Harrell.
The goal is to give both public aid recipients and taxpayers a clear message.
"If you're cheating the system, we will find you because that's breaking the law," said Harrell.
Although there is money lost each year, John Harrell with DCF wants to emphasize how much money DCF saves taxpayers through its investigative efforts. Over the past two years, $8 million have been saved here on the First Coast.
When it comes to penalties for food stamp fraud, it is three strikes and you're out.
According to the Department of Children and Families, first time offenders would be disqualified from receiving food stamps for one year.
Second time offenders would be disqualified from receiving food stamps for two years. Once a person is caught three times, they are barred from the program completely.
The number to report fraud is 1-866-762-2237. You can remain anonymous.
First Coast News