State authorities have accused a Shillington woman of fraudulently receiving about $7,800 in government food benefits by failing to report income from two employers as well as her unemployment compensation benefits.
Yanaryra Polanco Rodriguez, 32, was charged Dec. 3 by the Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector General with food stamp fraud. She remained free to await a hearing following arraignment Dec. 13 before District Judge Michael D. Kaufman in Reading Central Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit:
On Oct. 8, the Department of Human Services’ Berks County Assistance Office made an overpayment referral for Polanco Rodriguez for unreported income.
An investigator reviewed documents to verify that Polanco Rodriguez, in her application for benefit forms signed Dec. 12, 2022, for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as food stamps) benefits, had reported no income or wages for herself.
In March 2023, a caseworker received notification on a computer database system that Polanco Rodriguez had obtained employment at a Chester County educational support agency with a hire date of Feb. 13, 2023. As a result, the caseworker decreased her family’s SNAP benefit.
On June 1, 2023, Polanco Rodriguez contacted the Berks caseworker to report she was no longer employed at the Chester County agency. The caseworker, however, discovered Polanco Rodriguez was receiving wages from a health care staffing agency, income that was not reported.
Polanco Rodriguez said she was no longer working for either agency. The caseworker requested letters of employment termination. Receiving none, SNAP benefits were closed effective May 31, 2023.
On June 8, 2023, Polanco Rodriguez electronically submitted a new application for SNAP benefits via the state’s COMPASS portal. She reported she had ceased employment at both agencies and had applied for unemployment benefits.
The caseworker requested verification that Polanco Rodriguez had applied for unemployment and the status of the application. Based on the information at hand, however, the caseworker expedited SNAP benefit authorization for the household.
On Nov. 5, 2023, Polanco Rodriguez completed the mandatory semi-annual reporting form, reporting no income from wages and no change to receiving unemployment benefits.
Based on this reporting, SNAP benefits were continued for the household.
On March 25, 2024, the caseworker discovered through a computer database system that Polanco Rodriguez had been working for the health care staffing agency for the fourth quarter of 2023. Investigators verified that Polanco Rodriguez was employed at the company from December 2021 and was earning wages through October 2024.
Investigators also obtained payroll and employment informatiom from the Chester County education agency. They showed Polanco Rodriguez was hired Feb. 12, 2023, and was earning wages through October 2024.
As a result of receiving income from both employers while receiving unemployment compensation, Polanco Rodriguez was overpaid $7,835 in SNAP overpayment from Dec.1, 2022, through Oct. 31, 2024.
Source: Berkshire mont