New Report Reveals Millions Lost to Fraud in Massachusetts Benefits

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has been bellowing since President Trump took the oath of office in January that “people will get hurt and people will die,” as Trump attempts to eliminate taxpayer-funded waste, fraud and abuse from the budget, particularly in entitlement programs where spending is out of control.

Yet, a lot of taxpayer-funded waste, fraud and abuse exists right here in Healey’s Massachusetts.

Healey’s Criticism of Federal Cuts

Mass.gov quotes Healey as saying, “President Trump’s cuts are going to force millions of people – children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities – into hunger. They are also going to hurt local farmers and retailers who rely on these programs to support their business and create jobs.”

“In Massachusetts, we won’t accept that," Healey said.

In another Healey rant on the state’s website, the governor insisted that communities and organizations from across the state “are reporting the tangible impacts that federal cuts and delays are having on their budgets, projects, and livelihoods.”

The truth of the matter is that Massachusetts is spending millions of dollars each year supporting waste, fraud and abuse in public benefits programs. Some of that money is being identified and recovered by State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI).

State Auditor’s Findings on Fraud

DiZoglio’s office said that in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 (April, May and June), “BSI investigated a total of 1,153 cases and there were overpayment calculations in 143 cases with identified fraud.”

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Breakdown of FY2025 Fraud Cases

DiZoglio identified fraud totaled $4,184,380, with MassHealth/Medicaid seeing the most abuse  at $3,812,331. SNAP overpayments totaled $690,000, Personal Care Attendant (PCA) was $145,638, Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) totaled $134,526, Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) was at $23,179, and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children tallied $8,568.

That's only three months.

Quarterly Reports Show Ongoing Issues

In Quarter 3 of FY2025, BSI identified more than $2.4 million in fraud. More than $2 million was discovered in Quarter 2 of FY2025, and $2.5 million-plus in Quarter 1.

That’s only one fiscal year. DiZoglio’s webpage posts quarterly reports dating back to 2005.

Why Fraud Undermines the Debate on Cuts

With in excess of $11 million in waste, fraud and abuse identified in Massachusetts – just one of 50 states – it’s difficult to take elected officials seriously when they suggest that “people will die” if waste is cut from taxpayer-funded entitlement programs or it's suggested that able-bodied recipients look for work to qualify for benefits.