Three reforms aimed at addressing waste, fraud, and abuse in Pennsylvania’s public assistance programs have become law as part of the state’s 2025-26 budget agreement. Senator Dave Argall (R-29) introduced the measures, which received bipartisan support after nearly four years of debate.
“These reforms protect taxpayer dollars and ensure benefits go to the Pennsylvanians who truly need them,” Argall said. “Cracking down on waste, fraud and abuse is essential for these programs to run efficiently and serve their intended purpose.”
The first reform requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to regularly compare death records with its lists of public assistance recipients. This action follows a previous audit that found over 2,300 deceased individuals had received more than $700,000 in benefits within one year. The new policy is designed to prevent such improper payments before they happen.
A second provision mandates that DHS check wage records from employers and the Department of Revenue to confirm eligibility for Medical Assistance and SNAP benefits. From 2019 to 2023, the Office of State Inspector General reported filing more than 2,900 criminal complaints related to welfare fraud, resulting in over $15 million in restitution owed by offenders. This underscores ongoing concerns about fraudulent claims in public benefit programs.
The third measure calls for DHS to submit an annual report detailing how lottery winnings and average vehicle equity are considered when determining cash assistance eligibility.
Argall noted that these changes do not remove assistance but instead help direct resources toward those most in need. “This is great news for those who desperately need public assistance,” he said. “While my earlier efforts were opposed by many members of the Senate and the House, these measures were passed by overwhelming margins this time. Finally — a victory for common sense!”
All three reforms were approved with significant majorities: 46-3 in the Senate and 199-4 in the House.
