Quote:Americans receiving food stamps were caught selling and bartering their benefits online for art, housing and cash, according to a new federal report that investigates fraud in the nation’s largest nutrition support program.
Complicating the situation is the fact states around the country are having trouble tracking and prosecuting the crimes because their enforcement budgets have been slashed despite the rapidly-rising number of food stamp recipients, according to the Government Accountability Office report.
Under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, 47 million people have been awarded $76 billion in benefits. State agencies are responsible for addressing SNAP recipient fraud under the guidance and monitoring of the Food and Nutrition Service.
“Such rapid program growth can increase the potential for fraud unless appropriate agency controls are in place to help minimize these risks,” the investigators said in their report.
The GAO report resulted from a review of 11 state and federal efforts to fight food stamp fraud, effectiveness of certain fraud detection tools and how FNS oversees state anti-fraud efforts.
The report found that “most of the selected states reported difficulties in conducting fraud investigations due to either reduced or maintained staff levels while SNAP recipient numbers greatly increased from fiscal year 2009 through 2013.”
The report also said some of the state officials interviewed suggested “changing the financial incentives structure to help support the costs of investigating potential SNAP fraud.”
As for the actual fraud itself, during a 30-day testing period of the automated tool for e-commerce websites, the GAO report found “28 postings from one popular e-commerce websites that advertised the potential sale of food stamp benefits in exchange for cash.”
The GAO also found limitations on the effectiveness of recommended replacement card data and website monitoring tools for fraud detection.
It also said states have different thresholds for prosecuting food stamp fraud.
In Tennessee, for example, $100 in benefits must be fraudulently obtained before officials will consider prosecuting, but in Texas it is a $5,000 level.
Allegations of fraud and abuse have long-plagued SNAP and have been used by lawmakers in Washington to argue that the program has spiraled out of control.
The sad thing about this is that there are probably people who really require help that will get less than their needs. There is just no way, 47 million people need help.
(This post was last modified: 08-23-2014 02:03 PM by QuestionSocratic.)
(08-23-2014 02:02 PM)QuestionSocratic Wrote: The sad thing about this is that there are probably people who really require help that will get less than their needs.
My dad and I were talking about this yesterday.
I wonder though: Which fraud is more rampant? Food stamp fraud done by poor people or Medicare fraud done by the rich?
(This post was last modified: 08-23-2014 02:05 PM by nomad2u2001.)
08-23-2014 02:05 PM
SumOfAllFears
Grim Reaper of Misguided Liberal Souls
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When the IRS cannot stop $4 million going to one address in La., or $20 million going to overseas accounts. When the DHS cannot keep convicted criminals from being released. When Food Stamp fraud is rampant. When Veterans die waiting to get care. When Medicaid is the most abused Fed. gov't program. When money is being funnelled to terrorists. When the Gov't boondoggle of ZeroCare may cost taxpayers $4 trillion in bailout money. When the gov't treats non-citizens better than citizens. When the US post office cant turn a profit to save its life. Whan the FED and the GSE's are as out of control as any time in history.
Is there any question that gov't run anything is a failure of epic portions.
(08-23-2014 05:00 PM)UofMemphis Wrote: While I fully support programs such as SNAP, Section 8, disability, unemployment, etc...I also support stopping fraud in these programs.
That's right, but how we do that is the real question.
(08-23-2014 05:00 PM)UofMemphis Wrote: While I fully support programs such as SNAP, Section 8, disability, unemployment, etc...I also support stopping fraud in these programs.
That's right, but how we do that is the real question.
Require a photo ID every time you use the EBT card...that way you can't just sell the card and PIN number.
(08-23-2014 05:00 PM)UofMemphis Wrote: While I fully support programs such as SNAP, Section 8, disability, unemployment, etc...I also support stopping fraud in these programs.
That's right, but how we do that is the real question.
Require a photo ID every time you use the EBT card...that way you can't just sell the card and PIN number.
(08-23-2014 05:00 PM)UofMemphis Wrote: While I fully support programs such as SNAP, Section 8, disability, unemployment, etc...I also support stopping fraud in these programs.
That's right, but how we do that is the real question.
Require a photo ID every time you use the EBT card...that way you can't just sell the card and PIN number.
(08-23-2014 05:00 PM)UofMemphis Wrote: While I fully support programs such as SNAP, Section 8, disability, unemployment, etc...I also support stopping fraud in these programs.
That's right, but how we do that is the real question.
Require a photo ID every time you use the EBT card...that way you can't just sell the card and PIN number.
So someone taking money needs a photo id... Why not someone voting?
(08-23-2014 05:00 PM)UofMemphis Wrote: While I fully support programs such as SNAP, Section 8, disability, unemployment, etc...I also support stopping fraud in these programs.
That's right, but how we do that is the real question.
Require a photo ID every time you use the EBT card...that way you can't just sell the card and PIN number.
So someone taking money needs a photo id... Why not someone voting?
(08-23-2014 05:00 PM)UofMemphis Wrote: While I fully support programs such as SNAP, Section 8, disability, unemployment, etc...I also support stopping fraud in these programs.
That's right, but how we do that is the real question.
Require a photo ID every time you use the EBT card...that way you can't just sell the card and PIN number.
But I thought ID cards are racist.
Quote where I said that.
Who said that you did?
But your fellow left-wing morons have claimed that requiring an ID to vote is racist.
(08-23-2014 05:07 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote: That's right, but how we do that is the real question.
Require a photo ID every time you use the EBT card...that way you can't just sell the card and PIN number.
But I thought ID cards are racist.
Quote where I said that.
Who said that you did?
But your fellow left-wing morons have claimed that requiring an ID to vote is racist.
Why are you proposing a racist ideal?
The right to vote in a free election, one of our nation's most sacred rights, is a little different than eligibility for a government benefits program. I guess you're too busy hammering away at one political side of the spectrum to consider the disparity
(08-23-2014 05:09 PM)UofMemphis Wrote: Require a photo ID every time you use the EBT card...that way you can't just sell the card and PIN number.
But I thought ID cards are racist.
Quote where I said that.
Who said that you did?
But your fellow left-wing morons have claimed that requiring an ID to vote is racist.
Why are you proposing a racist ideal?
The right to vote in a free election, one of our nation's most sacred rights, is a little different than eligibility for a government benefits program. I guess you're too busy hammering away at one political side of the spectrum to consider the disparity
And what part of that difference makes it more important to ascertain the identity of the person involved for one purpose than it is for the other?
(08-23-2014 05:00 PM)UofMemphis Wrote: While I fully support programs such as SNAP, Section 8, disability, unemployment, etc...I also support stopping fraud in these programs.
When folks are incentivised to provide more and more food stamps there is no incentive to check for fraud on the front end.
08-24-2014 06:56 AM
SumOfAllFears
Grim Reaper of Misguided Liberal Souls
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