The OIG Rewards Program allows for the payment of up to $10,000 for disclosures of criminal or unlawful activity to the VA OIG when that information leads to a felony charge or a substantial civil monetary recovery, or complaints submitted to VA OIG that result in significant improvements to, or savings in, VA operations and programs. A reward greater than $10,000 may be authorized in exceptional circumstances.
Read all the details of the Rewards Program.
Your participation in the Rewards Program begins by contacting our Hotline and reporting the information you have. You may use our online form to report an issue. Please indicate on the form that you wish to be considered for the Investigations or Hotline Rewards Program.
In May 2014, the OIG presented a Hotline Reward for information that revealed OIT wasted a total of $10.9 million on data storage in 2010 through 2012. The wasted funds consisted of $7.2 million to purchase 77 computer servers as well as $3.7 to lease two data center spaces. OIT did not ultimately use these items because it changed data storage strategies after the funds were committed.
In January 2013, OIG presented a reward to a confidential informant. The source of the information reported an apparent fraud of the VA Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) program. This information launched an investigation by OIG that subsequently proved that the defendant fraudulently claimed SDVOSB status in order to obtain Federal government set-aside contracts. Such contracts are specifically set aside for small businesses which are owned by veterans with disabilities. Sentences in such cases have included time in prison, supervised release, fines, restitution, and forfeiture of property.
In February 2013, the OIG presented a Hotline Reward to a confidential complainant for reporting that a claimant concealed a current marriage in order to improperly receive compensation for over ten years based on a previous marriage to a Veteran. Because of the complainant's disclosure, VA saved over $200,000, including additional benefits the claimant would have received based on false information.