NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary said SNAP beneficiaries will be required to reapply for benefits to prevent fraud.
Those receiving the SNAP benefits would have to prove they meet the eligibility requirements to keep getting payments.
Monday, the Tennessee Department of Human Services began giving out full payments to SNAP recipients like Sheena Reed.
She has two twins who rely on those benefits.
“I was excited because I think you know I was gonna get some more food for the girls,” she said.
Reed said her full payout has been lower than normal as the USDA has become stricter.
“There was an overpayment for two years, that’s what they said,” recalled Reed.
However, she is not worried about the proposed crackdown on fraud but rather how difficult it makes it on beneficiaries like herself.
“There are reported instances of fraud. That looks terrible on us,” said Reed.
She said she would gladly reapply for SNAP benefits.
The push by the USDA is under President Donald Trump’s guidance.
On FOX Business ‘Mornings with Maria’, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins revealed data from 29 complying states (mostly red) showed 186,000 dead people were still receiving benefits.
She adds that the data also showed people getting benefits from more than one state.
“500,000 getting more than two times to benefit,” said Rollins.
She said the SNAP overhaul is in an effort to help families who really need it.
“My taxpayer dollars should not be spent on fraud and abuse and taking it out of the mouths of families that really need the program,” said Rollins.
Nationwide, USDA data shows there are more than 226,000 fraudulent benefit claims and an estimated 691,000 fraudulent transactions approved.
The data also shows that in Tennessee, there are 12,014 fraudulent transaction claims, and there are 4,519 stolen benefit claims approved.
Signe Anderson, with the Tennessee Justice, explained that those claims are mainly third-party scammers.
“The focus really should be on USDA finding ways to protect those families and get to the bottom of the criminal rings,” said Anderson.
She said making people reapply is burdensome.
Conservative political analyst Steve Gill said people already have to reapply as often as 6 months.
He added that enforcement is key.
“I think we need to be making sure that people are getting the chance to be helped, but don’t become a lifetime burden on the taxpayers,” he said.
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A USDA spokesperson sent us this statement:
“Secretary Rollins wants to ensure the fraud, waste, and incessant abuse of SNAP ends. Rates of fraud were only previously assumed, and President Trump is doing something about it. Using standard recertification processes for households is a part of that work. As well as ongoing analysis of State data, further regulatory work, and improved collaboration with States.”
There is no timeline yet for when this recertification process will begin.
The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) told FOX 17 News they have not received any federal guidelines for the re-application.
TDHS also said there are no changes to qualifications for SNAP recipients for the re-application at this time.
