Some $34 million of taxpayer money is lost every day due to errors and inconsistencies in food stamp payments, according to a study from the Economic Policy Innovation Center.
Alaska stands out as one of the worst states in administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, with 57% of food stamp payments showing inconsistencies, per the study, which the Daily Mail obtained.
Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, and Oregon have similar trends, each showing error rates of over 20%.
SNAP provides food assistance to low-income households, ensuring they can afford the nutritious food necessary for maintaining health and overall well-being. Approximately 42 million people receive these monthly benefits, averaging around $212 per person or $400 per household in support.
Matthew Dickerson, the author of the study and former House Budget Committee adviser, reportedly exposed a significant number of over-payments and payments that should never have been made. These “vary alarmingly across states, indicating stark disparities in program administration,” he said.
While fraud and abuse play a role in mistaken payouts, the report also explains they do not consistently indicate illegal activity.
Stacy Dean, a top-ranking nutrition official at the Department of Agriculture, said the agency would work harder to cut back on payment errors.
Food stamp enrollment saw a significant increase in the past 20 years, rising from 17.3 million beneficiaries in 2001 to 42.1 million last year, per the study.
At the same time, Dickerson said SNAP costs have surged from $31 billion to $135 billion, using inflation-adjusted figures.
As Washington lawmakers discuss an updated farm bill, Republicans aim to reduce approximately $27 billion in funding for nutrition programs over the next decade.
Restricting USDA’s authority to update the cost of a sample grocery budget underlying the benefit calculation would result in savings, while benefits would still increase with inflation, according to a committee aide. The bill is expected to cost $1.5 trillion over 10 years.
Anti-hunger groups have said they oppose any cuts.
Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) said SNAP has “become a lifestyle” for recipients rather than a “life vest,” saying these overpayments amount to $13.15 billion per year.
The food stamp program is the largest nonhealthcare welfare program by total spending, exceeding the combined costs of the departments of Commerce, Energy, Interior, Justice, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
While there are states with better administration, such as South Dakota, Wyoming, and Wisconsin, Dickerson said there are still millions of dollars lost that are not even being recorded. The USDA does not register improper SNAP payouts below $48.
The report also reveals that recipients are staying on food stamps for longer durations compared to previous years, and these are individuals who should be at work. Dickerson noted that nearly two-thirds of SNAP recipients who are capable of working remain unemployed.
“The Biden administration is allowing states to waive the work requirements and even ignore the basic eligibility requirements. Enrollment has surged and taxpayer spending has skyrocketed,” Dickerson told the Washington Examiner.
“Instead of trapping people into dependency, we should instead be promoting opportunity and human flourishing,” he added.
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“The story of the food stamp program is one of expanding enrollment, higher spending, benefit payments growing faster than inflation, little work by recipients, and ultimately, a greater dependence on taxpayers,” Dickerson wrote in his report.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the USDA for comment.