Yingling serving on national fraud board

SANDUSKY — The United Council on Welfare Fraud recently elected Neil Yingling III to its board of directors. Yingling, who serves as the workforce development and fraud control administrator for Erie County Job and Family Services along with Erie County's Ohio Means Jobs chapter, will represent what's known as Region 1, consisting of many northeastern states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio. This appointment to the national board recognizes his extensive experience and leadership in combating public assistance fraud, according to a council statement. For his board of directors position, an election took place at the council's annual conference, which occurred in August in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Yingling also serves as the board president for the Ohio Council on Welfare Fraud. In all of his positions —whether locally, throughout the state or nationwide — colleagues said he brings the firsthand, on-the-ground experience needed to combat fraud, always looking out for those benefiting from and dependent upon Erie County's public assistance programs. "I'm honored to be part of the United Council on Welfare Fraud's board and to represent Region 1," Yingling said. "This is an important opportunity to contribute to the national conversation on safeguarding taxpayer resources and ensuring that public assistance programs serve those who truly need them." The trip and associated fees were covered by the council's board, allowing Yingling — in his position as board president — to attend without using any local taxpayer dollars. He also used personal vacation time for the conference. Program integrity is the comprehensive effort to ensure that public assistance programs — such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families — are administered correctly. This includes preventing fraudulent applications and recovering improperly paid funds. "Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar that cannot be used to help vulnerable individuals and families, and this work helps maintain public trust in these essential programs," Yingling said.