The Many Reasons for Residency Checks: Save Money, Stay Safe

Other than verifying school enrollments, why would someone want to conduct a residency check? Here are seven other ways residency checks might save money or protect citizens:

• Keep sex offenders away from children - Residency checks ensure that registered sex offenders live where they say they do, and aren't actually living near schools or other places where children congregate.
• Decrease insurance fraud - Insurance companies can cut costs using residency checks to identify instances of insurance fraud. For example, someone with a false disability claim might provide fake residency information to avoid surveillance that would prove they aren't actually disabled. All policy holders pay for that fraud.
• Eliminate Section 8 housing fraud - Sometimes recipients of Section 8 housing defraud the government (meaning they defraud taxpayers). They might actually own the building they claim to rent within under a sham corporation. Residency checks can help identify this fraud.
• Determine benefits enrollment eligibility - If your local or state government offers benefits to citizens, they'll need to meet residency requirements to be eligible. Make sure your tax dollars support those legitimately living within your community by asking the government or organizations to conduct residency checks in suspicious circumstances.
• Establish employment eligibility - Some jobs (such as joining local law enforcement) might involve residency requirements. Recruiting employees costs a lot of money. Avoid going through the process twice by conducting residency checks prior to hiring.
• Avoid hiring undocumented workers or those with hidden criminal backgrounds - Residency checks can also help employers identify undocumented workers or those trying to hide criminal records by sharing incorrect residency details on applications.
• Conduct a premarital background check - Residency checks can also serve as part of a premarital background check to identify dishonest or already-married partners.

Residency checks are a cost-efficient way to address all of these problems. Is there really a reason not to put them to work for you or your area's residents?