State Reviews

Reports Of Fraud In Post-Storm Aid

HARTFORD (AP) — Governor Dannel P. Malloy says an investigation is under way into whether scores of people, including some state employees, received emergency aid after Tropical Storm Irene even though they earned too much money to qualify.

Malloy said December 4 that no fraud cases had been confirmed, but that some state workers could be fired or arrested if the allegations are substantiated.

He did not provide specific numbers or estimate the amount that might have gone to people who did not qualify.

The federal benefits were provided to low-income people to replace spoiled food and cover disaster-related expenses after Irene’s remnants hit Connecticut on August 28.

Food stamp recipients received extra monthly allocations in their accounts, while others seeking one-time help could get $200 to $952 depending on their family’s size and income.