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More than 42 million low-income Americans receive benefits from
the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the
largest U.S. anti-hunger program, whose administration by states
is part-funded by USDA.
The COVID-19 pandemic and food price inflation increased SNAP
enrollment in recent years and states are struggling to support
higher case loads, said USDA Deputy Under Secretary for
Nutrition Stacy Dean in an interview with Reuters.
Consequently, some recipients are taking months to be approved
for benefits or receiving the wrong amount, Dean said, adding:
"This can create terrible stress for families."
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Thursday sent letters to
the governors of 44 states and the District of Columbia, Guam
and the U.S. Virgin Islands urging them to reduce error rates
and improve timeliness.
"People should not lose access to food because States are unable
to review their applications in a timely fashion," said the
letters, seen by Reuters.
Six states did not receive letters because they are performing
well, Dean said.
In fiscal year 2022, 11.5% of SNAP benefits had over- or
under-payment errors, according to USDA data.
States have managed high case loads before, not least during the
Great Recession, without significant issues, Dean said:
"We haven't seen this kind of problem in the program, it’s
unprecedented."
USDA matches states' costs for administering SNAP. If that
administration does not improve, there can be a fiscal penalty,
Dean said.
SNAP is funded by the farm bill, a legislative package passed
every five years. The last one expired in September but was
extended for one year in November's spending deal.
(Reporting by Leah Douglas; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
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