State authorities have accused a Reading woman of fraudulently receiving more than $8,000 in government food benefits over eight months by failing to report the substantial income of a member of her household.
Emishaly M. Ortiz-Rivera, 25, of the 400 block of Elm Street remained free to await a hearing following arraignment Jan. 7 before District Judge Priscilla Campos.
The Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector is prosecuting the case.
According to the probable cause affidavit:
In September, the Department of Human Services’ Berks County assistance office made an overpayment referral after discovering unreported income from the legally responsible relative.
The man had been employed as a warehouse associate for a third-party logistics company in Coatesville, Chester County, for more than two years.
Ortiz-Rivera applied for and was approved for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits in June 2022. At the time, she reported her only household income was unemployment compensation for her children’s father.
Her signature acknowledged her duty to report any changes in circumstances that may affect her eligibility for the assistance.
In subsequent reporting in July 2023 and January 2024, Ortiz-Rivera reported no household income. She also confirmed her household consisted of her two children and their father, the legally responsible relative.
She again signed an acknowledgement of her obligation to report any changes in the household, including income.
Based on the information Ortiz-Rivera provided, she was deemed eligible to continue to receive food stamps.
In March 2024, a cross-referencing of databases revealed unreported income from the legally responsible relative for the fourth quarter of 2023.
A review of payroll records showed the man received wages totaling $106,015 for the 13 months from April 21, 2023, through May 31, 2024. The caseworker also confirmed the man’s home address on company records was the same as Ortiz-Rivera’s.
The average monthly income of $8,155 over that period made the household ineligible for welfare benefits.
In January 2024, Ortiz-Rivera reported zero household income in her application for LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides cash grants to help Pennsylvania families pay their heating bills.
Officials determined Ortiz-Rivera received a total of $8,689 in SNAP benefits from Aug. 1, 2023, through April 30, 2024.