The Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) in Massachusetts has submitted its first quarter report for fiscal year 2025, detailing its activities and findings related to public assistance fraud. BSI operates under the Office of the State Auditor and is responsible for investigating allegations of fraud in various public assistance programs, including those administered by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), the Department of Children and Families (DCF), and MassHealth. The report highlights that BSI investigated 814 cases during the first quarter, identifying fraud in 207 cases, which resulted in overpayment calculations totaling $2,549,324.63 across various assistance types, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid.

The report also notes that BSI collaborates with the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) through a Memorandum of Understanding, despite EEC not being included in BSI's enabling statute. The report includes new legal language that specifies the types of assistance programs investigated, such as SNAP, Medicaid, and Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC), among others. Additionally, it mentions the total restitution settlements recovered amounting to $457,616.10, although BSI is unable to report on monthly collections or the reasons for any shortfalls in collections. Overall, the report emphasizes BSI's commitment to ensuring that taxpayer dollars are effectively managed and that public benefits are available to those who genuinely need them.