Public Interest Report Ohio Public Benefit Programs For The Period November 2025
Learn how the AI-generated research projects were createdOverall Conclusion
Overall, the state is well-positioned to execute swift corrective action and rectify identified control weaknesses and baseline data issues without delay, leveraging its existing framework to streamline cross-program integration.
Audit Scope
Scope and Approach: Primary objective to determine whether administering state agency examined and maintained proper documentation of citizenship and immigration status for individuals enrolled in a public benefit program during November 2025. Data processed through SAVE in March 2026 for LHEAP, SNAP, and OWF and April 2026 for Medicaid, PFCC, and UI. A sample of 312 recipients across six programs within a population of 150,743 was tested to determine if the agency examined and maintained documentation of eligibility.
Key Findings Summary
SNAP, LHEAP, PFCC, and UI recipient sample populations had no identified exceptions.
Medicaid had exceptions in 6 of 60 sampled cases (10%), OWF had exceptions in 2 of 60 sampled cases (3%).
In total, 8 of 312 sampled recipients (3%) had exceptions across all tested programs.
View the Findings tab to see all 7 findings
AI-Assisted
AI Scope Summary
The audit evaluated whether Ohio’s administering agency properly examined and maintained documentation of citizenship and immigration status for public benefit recipients in November 2025, using SAVE verification to compare program records against electronic data, sampled 312 recipients across Medicaid, SNAP, OWF, LHEAP, PFCC, and UI; findings indicate a mix of strong data quality in several programs and identified exceptions primarily in Medicaid and OWF, with recommendations to strengthen documentation, data retention, and cross-program integrity, guiding future audits.
AI-Generated Insight
This Medicaid cross-program audit reveals that, while several programs (SNAP, LHEAP, PFCC, UI) had no identified exceptions in the sample, Medicaid and OWF showed notable gaps in documenting and verifying citizenship and immigration status. The SAVE-based cross-check identified mismatches and missing documentation, with an estimated potential $700,000 in ineligible OWF payments if errors are extrapolated. The report emphasizes strengthening documentation controls, standardized identity definitions, improved data retention, and hard-stop checks to prevent unverified enrollments, along with cross-program data sharing to improve program integrity.
Audit Objectives
The primary objective of the audit was to determine whether the administering state agency examined and maintained proper documentation of citizenship and immigration status for individuals enrolled in a public benefit program during November 2025.
Pursuant to Ohio Rev. Code § 117.11, we conducted this audit in the public interest to examine an agency’s process to determine whether recipients of certain public benefit programs met the citizenship and immigration status eligibility criteria.
We entered a Memorandum of Agreement with DHS to use the SAVE program to compare SAVE program results against the documentation maintained in the agency’s recipient files.
Audit Findings (7)
SNAP, LHEAP, PFCC, and UI recipient sample populations had no identified exceptions.
Medicaid had exceptions in 6 of 60 sampled cases (10%), OWF had exceptions in 2 of 60 sampled cases (3%).
In total, 8 of 312 sampled recipients (3%) had exceptions across all tested programs.
Five instances where documents did not demonstrate eligibility, including mismatches in birth name/SSN and insufficient follow-up; some cases involved expired immigration documents or misclassification of non-qualified aliens such as DACA.
Two OWF recipients had non-file documentation issues that undermined eligibility determinations; one recipient lacked in-state or eligibility documents in the file; possible ineligible payments estimated at about $700,000 if extrapolated across OWF population.
Some recipients had no file in the state eligibility system for their benefits, indicating potential disbursement to non-enrolled individuals.
Cross-program data quality and SAVE data issues were noted, including out-of-state addresses and SAVE categories like null or no SSN found in data files.
Recommendations (8)
Maintain Underlying Supporting Documentation: strengthen controls; monitor and periodically review case files; ensure uniform training for county agencies; maintain all records and support for eligibility determinations within the recipient file.
Improper Benefits Decision: evaluate internal controls for eligibility; ensure proper documentation is evaluated; provide regular uniform training and monitor county administration.
Protocols for Electronic Data Exchange Results: implement hard-stop controls in the eligibility system to prevent progression with incomplete/erroneous data; ensure secondary manual verification when electronic verification is inconclusive.
Policy Considerations: align documentation retention across programs to standardize requirements; synthesize documentation requirements; ensure availability of durable electronic verification records in case files.
Mandatory Retention of Electronic Verification and SAVE Documentation: archive permanent, dated electronic verification results within case files; follow 2 C.F.R. 200.303 guidelines on internal controls.
Alignment of Redetermination Windows with Status Expiration Dates: configure redetermination windows to align with immigration document expiration dates to protect program integrity.
Establish Standardized and Verifiable Identity Definitions: standardize criteria for acceptable identity documents across programs to avoid incomplete or unverified records;
Receipt of Benefits while Immigration Eligibility Status is Being Evaluated: consider eliminating grace periods or allowing backdating to time of application to ensure eligible applicants receive benefits while maintaining integrity.