The National Fraud Enforcement Division Criminal Tip Rewards Pilot Program (the “Fraud Rewards Program”) announced yesterday that whistleblowers may now be eligible for an early-proceeding award of $10,000 – $30,000.
On October 20, 2026, the Department announced the expansion of the Frauds Rewards Program. An individual may be eligible for a reward of between $10,000 and $30,000 to be paid at or around the time charges are filed.
Eligibility for the $10,000 to $30,000 reward under the Fraud Rewards Program does not preclude an individual from also recovering whistleblower payments at a later stage of the proceedings pursuant to other Government whistleblower programs.
Currently, only certain cases are eligible for this early proceeding award:
- Federal health care offenses and related crimes involving health care benefits programs or fraud against patients or others in the health care industry;
- Fraud on programs or benefits administered by the Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Education, Department of Veterans Affairs, or the Small Business Administration;
- Home health care fraud;
- Day care fraud; and
- Special services fraud.
This program may be expanded to include additional categories of fraud.
For many whistleblowers, having to wait years to see a recovery is daunting and may result in some deciding not to move forward with a case. Early rewards may encourage more whistleblowers to sound the alarm and report fraud, which is a benefit for all taxpayers!
For more information visit the National Fraud Criminal Tip Rewards Pilot Program and Pilot Program FAQs.
