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Fact check: Is snap being abused
Executive Summary
The evidence shows SNAP experiences measurable error and fraud, but the scale is limited relative to total program spending and use; improper payments and criminal cases exist alongside extensive federal and state efforts to detect and prevent abuse. Recent government reports and investigations document both rising vulnerabilities — especially from benefit theft and EBT skimming — and the program’s active enforcement and recovery actions, leaving the conclusion that SNAP is being abused in specific, identifiable ways rather than being systemically dominated by fraud [1] [2] [3] [4].
1. What the data actually says about how much SNAP is misused — numbers that matter
Federal audits and program reports quantify improper payments and fraud but show those problems are a fraction of total benefits and participation. The GAO estimated 11.7% improper payments in fiscal 2023, a metric that mixes errors (administrative mistakes, eligibility determinations) and intentional fraud, so it does not equate directly to criminal abuse [1]. USDA program activity shows active enforcement: tens of thousands of fraud investigations referred for hearings or prosecution and hundreds of millions of dollars recovered in recipient-claim collections, demonstrating both measurable abuse and substantial remedial activity [3]. The Congressional Research Service stresses that error and fraud are tracked and addressed, noting that measured rates and enforcement actions provide context that counters claims of pervasive, unchecked abuse [5]. Together, these sources show material but contained integrity problems within a very large program.
2. Recent trends and emerging vulnerabilities — why some experts say abuse is rising
Multiple recent assessments point to rising and evolving threats that increase the risk of SNAP abuse, particularly technological and theft-based schemes. Private-sector fraud studies and GAO follow-ups highlight growth in EBT card skimming, account takeovers, and reported benefit theft totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, and note many state-issued EBT cards lack modern theft-prevention features, which leaves beneficiaries vulnerable to external criminal activity [6] [2]. The USDA and state agencies have flagged instances of fabricated Social Security numbers and multiple payments to the same household in internal reviews, suggesting data quality and verification gaps that fraudsters can exploit [7]. These trends do not imply that most beneficiaries commit fraud, but they indicate attack surfaces have expanded, requiring technical upgrades and tighter controls.
3. Enforcement, recovery, and program integrity measures — the other side of the ledger
Federal and state authorities actively investigate and penalize fraud, using a mix of administrative disqualifications, prosecutions, and benefit recoveries, which demonstrates the system is not passive in the face of abuse. USDA’s SNAP Fraud Prevention framework and its national accuracy clearinghouse, plus states’ investigative work that led to tens of thousands of referrals and millions recovered, indicate significant infrastructure devoted to detection and accountability [4] [3]. Legal and policy debates, such as courts blocking certain punitive federal actions over state data sharing concerns, show tension between rapid enforcement and statutory or privacy limits, making policy responses politically and legally contested even as agencies push for stronger anti-fraud tools [7]. These activities show the program balances assistance delivery with targeted anti-fraud enforcement.
4. Putting it together — policy trade-offs, public perceptions, and what’s missing
The public debate often collapses measurement of improper payments into an argument that SNAP is “being abused” wholesale; the evidence supports a more nuanced conclusion that abuse exists, often in concentrated forms, while most benefits are used legitimately. GAO, CRS, USDA, and independent investigations converge: improper payments and fraud are real and sometimes rising in certain categories, particularly benefit theft and technological exploitation, yet enforcement recovers substantial funds and administrative systems catch many problems [1] [5] [2] [3]. Missing elements in the public discussion include the cost-benefit analysis of stronger verification measures (which can create burdens for needy households), investment needs for EBT security upgrades, and the privacy trade-offs of expanded data sharing between states and USDA — all important considerations for policymakers deciding how aggressively to pursue anti-fraud measures without undermining access for eligible recipients [7] [4].