Welfare Fraud Investigator

Salary : $72,189.49 - $124,212.73 Annually
Location : Throughout Riverside County
Job Type: Regular
Job Number: 26-37591-01
Department: Dept. of Public Social Services
Opening Date: 03/16/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.

ABOUT THE POSITION
This recruitment will establish a candidate pool of qualified competitive applicants and will remain open until filled.

The County of Riverside's Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), Special Investigations Unit, is seeking to fill a position for the Welfare Fraud Investigator throughout the Western Region of Riverside County.


This recruitment may be used for future vacancies throughout the County.

Welfare Fraud Investigators (WFI) are sworn peace officers that enforce the provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code and are responsible for investigating applicants and/or recipients of public assistance programs, such as CalFresh (SNAP), CalWORKs, General Assistance (GA), Child Care, and other benefit programs administered by the Department of Public Social Services. WFIs gather information, review documents, analyze data, conduct searches, witness interviews, and surveillance when necessary to provide relevant information to authorize, reject, reduce, and/or close fraudulent assistance benefits. WFI's are also responsible for providing support to CPS in conducting missing juvenile investigations as well as transporting high risk wards of the court county-wide, state-wide, and out of state, and performing security detail as needed at the welcome center. Additionally, WFIs may act as a witness during criminal court proceedings and administrative appeal hearings.

The ideal candidate for this position will have sworn law enforcement experience or a background in public assistance investigation, as well as, working knowledge of public assistance laws, rules, and regulations. Bilingual Spanish skill is desired, but not required.


POST certified, lateral candidates, from other law enforcement agencies are encouraged to apply.

Incumbents must either possess Basic POST Certifications at date of hire or obtain a basic POST Certificate within 12 months from date of hire. The County of Riverside sends newly hired Welfare Fraud Investigators who do not possess a Basic POST Certificate through Riverside Community College's Ben Clark Training Center to obtain the certification.
Meet the Team!

The is comprised of employees who work collectively and in partnership with community-based organizations to serve the needs of the community. Can you see yourself here?
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EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Review case files to locate alleged violations, determine validity of allegations and extract case file information useful to the investigation.
• Locate and interview suspected persons, absent parents, witnesses and company and agency representatives to obtain and verify information and evidence; analyze and evaluate statements, information and evidence obtained through interviews and investigations.
• Examine a variety of records to secure information concerning suspected violations; gather and assemble reports, statements, affidavits, and other forms of evidence for use in legal actions; gather, preserve, analyze and evaluate physical evidence for presentation in hearings and court; use electronic and electronic data processing equipment to collect evidence.
• Prepare and serve search warrants; prepare legal and general correspondences, investigative reports and other documents as directed.
• Interpret, explain and apply provisions of ongoing and new laws, rules, and regulations related to the investigations of welfare fraud and/or other special investigations.
• Prepare subjects for photo line-up to identify suspects; prepare and process extradition forms; identify, investigate, detain, and arrest suspects and appear in court to provide required information; file criminal complaints with the District Attorney's Office.
• Acts as a liaison between DPSS and the District Attorney's Office; correspond with County departments, other departmental staff, as well as various external agencies in the coordination of investigations.
• Conduct special investigations of internal affairs matters, applicant's background, alleged civil rights violations, DPSS court dependent problems, and other issues as directed.
• Conduct investigations of missing/runaway juveniles; locate and transport juveniles to and from group homes, hospitals, mental facilities, juvenile detention centers, family residences and airports, all of which may be both within or out of the County of Riverside and the State of California; comply and enforce appropriate safety guidelines to ensure officer safety, public safety, and the security of the juvenile.
• Respond to lobby security panic alarms and incidents involving members of the public creating a public safety risk to themselves, staff or others located in assigned DPSS County facilities; serve in a sworn peace officer capacity and tactfully deal with escalating situations until local law enforcement agencies respond.
• Assist with court-ordered juvenile visitations and monitoring of dependent care.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
OPTION I

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in criminal justice, law enforcement, administration of justice, police science, criminology or a related field to the assignment.
OPTION II

Education: Graduation from high school or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. test.
Experience: Two years performing non-sworn investigative work, which included conducting interviews, preparing investigative reports, identifying, and locating witnesses, suspects or claimants and conducting preliminary field investigations.
OPTION III

Education: Graduation from high school or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. test.
Experience: Two years conducting criminal investigations in a sworn status, in a governmental law enforcement agency, which included as a primary responsibility the performance of field investigations or law enforcement patrol enforcing the general criminal laws of a state.
OPTION IV

Education: Graduation from high school or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. test.
Experience: Three years conducting eligibility casework, which included as a primary responsibility an advanced level of case auditing in public assistance programs or performing casework in protective services, which included as a primary responsibility complex investigative work and writing court reports.

Other Requirements

License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required. Incumbents will required to drive to various facilities throughout the County of Riverside on a regular basis for field investigations, court hearings, and transportation of high risk wards of the court.

Possession of a valid State of California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Basic Certificate MUST be obtained within 12 months of appointment. Applicants must meet the following State of California Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T) requirements: Age: Applicants must be 21 years of age at the start of the academy.


(Applicants with POST Certifications can request a copy of their POST Profile at


Incumbents will be required to successfully pass a physical agility test:

THE PHYSICAL AGILITY CONSISTS OF:- Sit-ups: A minimum of 30 sit-ups must be completed within 60 seconds.- Push-ups: A minimum of 30 push-ups must be completed within 60 seconds.- 1 ½ mile run: The run must be completed within 13 minutes, with no stopping or walking.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS : Prior to employment, candidates will be required to pass a thorough Class II background investigation, which includes a polygraph examination, an extensive Class I physical examination and a psychological evaluation. The physical examination will include, but is not limited to: Vision: Applicants must have no worse than 20/200 correctable to 20/20 and must have normal peripheral fields and normal color vision. Hearing: Applicants must not have hearing loss greater than 30dB at any of the first three frequencies and an average loss no greater than 30dB for all four frequencies. Hearing aids are not permitted to meet these requirements.


Schedule: Incumbents may be required to participate in a mandatory on-call schedule which may include working nights, holidays, and weekends.


Background Check: Individuals in identified positions must undergo and pass a background investigation prior to being permitted access to Federal Tax Information (FTI) such as BEER and Assets abstracts and are subject to reinvestigation. Reinvestigation is required of each individual with access to FTI within five (5) years from the date of the previous background investigation.


Must be able to pass an extensive background check and Preliminary Investigative questionnaire (PIQ) as part of the interviewing and hiring process.
A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from employment with the Department of Public Social Services.
ALL OPTIONS
Knowledge of: Diverse interviewing techniques; research methods and techniques; investigative techniques and procedures; the principles of identification, preservation and presentation of evidence; the legal rights of citizens; policies and procedures regarding the safety and security of juveniles; ongoing and new rules of evidence and court procedures; methods of collaborative problem solving; ongoing and new state and local laws and regulations governing sworn peace officer legal authority; commercial and property laws and credit transactions; legal procedures; the methods of financial record keeping.

Ability to: Conduct a variety of welfare fraud and departmental investigations; obtain information and evidence by observation, record examination, interviews and use of electronic and electronic data processing equipment; analyze and evaluate the statements of witnesses or suspected violators and draw logical conclusions; secure and present information and evidence in both verbal and written form; identify, detain and arrest suspects in accordance with sworn peace officer status; deal with citizens and public officials under conditions requiring tact; establish and maintain effective working relationships with the members of the public and other law enforcement personnel; communicate clearly and effectively with diverse populations.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

APPLICATION PROCESS:
1. Qualification Review

2. Physical Agility Test (Required for those that have never held a POST certificate. Candidates with an expired POST will not need to take the physical agility.)

3. Hiring Interviews
Who May Apply:

This recruitment is open to all applicants.

Application Status

How to confirm your application was received or check on the status of your application, log-in to , click on your name in the upper right corner, and click on "Applications & Status."

Due to the nature and volume of this recruitment you may only receive correspondence if you are scheduled to complete the physical agility test, referred for an interview, or when the event is complete.


Sign Up for Job Alerts

Go to , click on "Careers," click on "County Job Openings," and click on "Subscribe to Job Alerts" icon.

For Questions Regarding This Recruitment:

Contact Christopher Recinos View email address on click.appcast.io or at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Please allow 1 - 3 business days for a response for your inquiry.
APPLICATION INFORMATION

Veteran's Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouse's death certificate, a letter of spouse's disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veteran's Administration. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here:
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at:
Proof of Education
If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.

If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services () or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ().
Work Authorization Requirement
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.
Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.
Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.
General Information
Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.
Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.
Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the ' Apply ' link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site,
If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at View email address on click.appcast.io or toll-free View phone number on click.appcast.io.
BENEFIT PROGRAM: RSA
MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect through the RSA Benefit Trust. The County provides a monthly Flexible Benefit Credit contribution to the RSA Benefit Trust on behalf of each RSA member as governed by the applicable RSA Memorandum of Understanding towards the cost of these plans.

Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list


MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT : County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).

• Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
• Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
• Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. Effective July 1, 2023 employee contributions are 7.25% and will increase to 7.75% effective July 1, 2024.

A new member is defined as any of the following:

1. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.
2. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.
3. A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".

Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.
Note:

This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to or by calling the Benefits Information Line at View phone number on click.appcast.io,
Option 2.

If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at View phone number on click.appcast.io to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options (Nationwide or VALIC). Employees may contribute bi-weekly deduction up to the annual maximum on a pre-tax basis as governed under IRS regulations.

VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):

0 < 3 years = 80 Hours (10 Days)
4 < 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)
10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)

Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 700 hours.

SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.

HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year. The actual dates of County holidays are set by governing MOU language.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: May use accrued Sick leave, not to exceed five (5) working days

DISABILITY: Long-term Disability benefit is offered to RSA members through the Riverside Sheriff's Association. Benefits may be payable provided the member meets the eligibility requirements.

POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable RSA Memorandum of Understanding.

OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding or through the Riverside Sheriff's Association. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.
01


Are you a current or temporary County of Riverside employee with the Department of Public Social Services department?

• Yes
• No

02


Select the answer that best describes your current driver license status:

• I have a valid California license.
• I am able to obtain a valid California driver license.
• I currently have a valid out-of-state driver license, and am able to obtain a valid California driver license.
• I do not have and/or I am not able to obtain a California driver license.

03


Do you possess a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency or high school proficiency certificate?

• Yes
• No

04


Do you possess a completed Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university preferably with a major in criminal justice, law enforcement, administration of justice, police science, criminology, or a related field to the assignment?

• Yes
• No

05


I understand that this position may require driving to various facilities throughout the County of Riverside on a regular basis. (A County vehicle will be provided.)

• Yes
• No

06


I understand that I will be required to pass a thorough Class II background investigation, an extensive Class I physical examination, polygraph examination and a psychological evaluation as required of this position .

• Yes.
• No.

07


I have read the additional background requirements of this position and understand that I must be able to pass an extensive background check and Preliminary Investigative questionnaire (PIQ) as part of the interviewing and hiring process.(The background check process may take an extended period of time for completion.)

• Yes.
• No.

08


I understand that absent a POST Certificate, I am required to successfully pass a Physical Agility Test and that I am 21 years of age. PAT: Consisting of 30 sit-up within 60 seconds, 30 push-ups within 60 seconds, and 1.5 mile run within 13 minutes without stopping or walking.**Valid P.O.S.T certification is defined by California Penal Code Sections 830.1 and 830.2**Applicants must meet the following State of California Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T) requirements: Applicants must be 21 years of age at the start of the academy.

• Yes
• No

09


What is the highest level of California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certificate that you possess as defined by California Penal Code Sections 830.1 and 830.2?

• None
• Basic
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• Supervisory
• Management
• Executive

10


How many years of criminal investigative experience do you have, in a sworn status, in a governmental law enforcement agency which included as a primary responsibility, the performance of field investigations or law enforcement patrol experience enforcing the general criminal laws of the State?

• No experience.
• Less than one year.
• One year or more, but less than two years.
• Two years or more, but less than three years.
• Three years or more.

11


How many years of experience do you have performing investigative work, in a sworn or non-sworn capacity, which included conducting interviews, preparing investigative reports, identifying and locating witnesses, suspects or claimants, and conducting preliminary field investigations?

• No experience.
• Less than one year.
• One year or more, but less than two years.
• Two years or more, but less than three years.
• Three years or more.

12


How many years of experience do you have conducting eligibility casework, which included, as a primary responsibility, an advanced level of case auditing in public assistance programs or performing casework in protective services, which included as a primary responsibility complex investigative work and writing court reports?

• No experience.
• Less than one year.
• One year or more, but less than two years.
• Two years or more, but less than three years.
• Three years or more.

13


How many years of work experience do you have in which the primary duties of the job involved: in-depth interviewing and the securing of information from individuals to determine, on the basis of laws and regulations, the proper case action?

• No experience.
• Less than one year.
• One year or more, but less than two years.
• Two years or more, but less than three years.
• Three years or more.

Required Question