Welfare chief resigned after report of widespread waste

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The chief of the Massachusetts' welfare system resigned after a report showed millions of dollars were distributed to people not eligible for benefits .

Millions of your taxpayer dollars have been going into the pockets of people who might not need it. Department of Transitional Assistance Commissioner Daniel Curley resigned Thursday after the welfare system's widespread waste was revealed.

The scandal has angered some taxpayers.

“We don't know where our money is going, and people work really hard for their paychecks to have all that money taken out and going to people who don't even need it,” said Kerry O’Dea of Westfield.

47,000 Massachusetts families receiving benefits are unaccounted for, and nearly 30 million in food stamp money went to ineligible recipients. The welfare department also admitted to overpaying federal food stamp recipients by almost $28 million since 2010.

“We could be spending the tax dollars on a lot more important things than people that are healthy enough to be working and earning their own money instead of cheating the system,” said Jessica Barnes of Hampden.

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Worcester) told 22News that this misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits frustrates him, because there are plenty of families who really need these resources.

“What we should not do is basically say the answer is to slash these programs that provide a circle of protection for people. These are still tough economic times, there are vulnerable people, we have hungry people in Massachusetts,” McGovern said.

The Boston Herald reported that Secretary of Health and Human Services John Polanowicz requested Curley's resignation.

Daniel Curley is a Springfield native who attended the High School of Commerce.

The 22News I-Team has been following reports of welfare fraud. Don't miss their story Thursday when they reveal more system loopholes that aren't being closed.