As lawmakers debate cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) today, a new report shows it has one of the highest accuracy records of any governmental program.
The United States Department of Agriculture reports that for the fiscal year of 2012, the SNAP payment accuracy rate was 96.58 percent – the best on record/highest in the history of the program. In fact, over the last nine years, the payment accuracy rate has continued to increase each year and remain above 94 percent.
USDA officials say that some changes in the program have helped lead to the higher accuracy rate. They include reviewing higher risk retailers more frequently, expanding the definition of fraud to attack newer methods of SNAP benefit abuse, and sharing data to help catch people trying to commit SNAP fraud.
“It is ironic that with all the complaints about fraud and abuse that Congress is threatening to cut one of the most carefully monitored and error-free programs in the entire government,” says Terri Stangl, Executive Director of the Center for Civil Justice, which advocates for low-income people on hunger issues. “The program has grown because of the number of people who aren’t making ends meet has increased, not because there is abuse or errors. SNAP is one of the government programs that is actually reaching the people it is intended to help while they are in desperate times. “
The Center for Civil Justice statewide food stamp helpline is continually ringing with people throughout Michigan asking how they can get food assistance. Many of them are working but still can’t make ends meet, are newly unemployed or unable to find a job, are seniors on fixed incomes, or are people with disabilities or a caregiver for someone with disabilities. These callers are relieved to discover that help is available, especially if they are unable to buy food due to high childcare, housing, or medical costs.
Almost 47 million low-income Americans who can’t afford a nutritionally adequate diet each month count on SNAP. About 92 percent of what the government spent on SNAP in 2012 ($81 billion), went directly to help people buy food. The rest went for state administrative costs, including eligibility determinations, employment, training and nutrition education for SNAP households and for anti-fraud activities. As of February of this year more than 1.7 million people in Michigan were on SNAP which means about one in five Michiganders rely on the program for food.
People who want to see if they can qualify for SNAP can call the Center’s Helpline at 800-481-4989 or use a special benefits calculator at www.foodstamphelp.org