Widespread National Food Stamp Fraud Totals at Least $1 Billion, Could Be as High as $4.7 Billion

[candycorn]

SSDI is about 300B. Many if not most have no visible disability

visible disability?

One you can see just by looking.

if you imagine that you can "SEE JUST BY LOOKING"
most disabilities------you is STOOOPID (old now---but did work for years as a disability doc---and expert witness thereof in court)

I did say “many if not most”. Sure there are some disabilities you can not see. But Does diabetes count as a disability? Does mental anguish? Does arthritis? These are 3 of the conditions that some folks on SSDI claim as disabling and preventing them from finding work. There is a story in the link you won’t follow about a judge who had a defendant on SSDI in front of them. When the judge asked what the disability was, the reply was diabetes and high blood pressure. The judge told the defendant he had the same affliction.

Then there is this….from the same site...

260 Billion a year. Enough to build 13 walls LOL

What’s Trump’s doing about it? Nothing.

http://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/

 

[depotoo]

Actually, something is changing-

Looks like the last few years, apps are going down, under Obama and Trump.

SSDI is about 300B. Many if not most have no visible disability

visible disability?

One you can see just by looking.

if you imagine that you can "SEE JUST BY LOOKING"
most disabilities------you is STOOOPID (old now---but did work for years as a disability doc---and expert witness thereof in court)

I did say “many if not most”. Sure there are some disabilities you can not see. But Does diabetes count as a disability? Does mental anguish? Does arthritis? These are 3 of the conditions that some folks on SSDI claim as disabling and preventing them from finding work. There is a story in the link you won’t follow about a judge who had a defendant on SSDI in front of them. When the judge asked what the disability was, the reply was diabetes and high blood pressure. The judge told the defendant he had the same affliction.

View attachment 246687

Then there is this….from the same site...

View attachment 246689

260 Billion a year. Enough to build 13 walls LOL

What’s Trump’s doing about it? Nothing.

http://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/

 

[candycorn]

Actually, something is changing-

View attachment 246690
Looks like the last few years, apps are going down, under Obama and Trump.

SSDI is about 300B. Many if not most have no visible disability

visible disability?

One you can see just by looking.

if you imagine that you can "SEE JUST BY LOOKING"
most disabilities------you is STOOOPID (old now---but did work for years as a disability doc---and expert witness thereof in court)

I did say “many if not most”. Sure there are some disabilities you can not see. But Does diabetes count as a disability? Does mental anguish? Does arthritis? These are 3 of the conditions that some folks on SSDI claim as disabling and preventing them from finding work. There is a story in the link you won’t follow about a judge who had a defendant on SSDI in front of them. When the judge asked what the disability was, the reply was diabetes and high blood pressure. The judge told the defendant he had the same affliction.

View attachment 246687

Then there is this….from the same site...

View attachment 246689

260 Billion a year. Enough to build 13 walls LOL

What’s Trump’s doing about it? Nothing.

http://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/

A lot of the applications come from the States. The States hire companies to assist folks in getting off of the State welfare rolls and on to SSDI. That pool is drying up.

 

[danielpalos]

https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/696433.pdf

Millions of households rely on the $64 billion Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, to buy food. But some stores are defrauding the program by "selling" cash instead of food. For example, a store might give a person $50 in exchange for $100 in benefits—then pocket the difference.

How widespread is this "retailer trafficking"? The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) reports that $1 billion in benefits are trafficked annually. However, the real extent is uncertain and could be anywhere from $960 million to $4.7 billion.

We recommended ways to improve how FNS measures and addresses trafficking.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Actions Needed to Better Measure and Address Retailer Trafficking

Wow, the misinformation express is busy, isn't it. Hate to break it to you but part of the Snap Program is the ability for the card holder to get X amount of cash each month. There is no conspiracy with any business. The freebeacon is so far down on the truth scale that it barely registers on the scale at all anymore.

Now, if you want to clean it up, I suggest you look into cutting off the cash along with the other things like Energy Drinks. There are a whole line of "Luxury" items on the list of allowable products that can be taken off of the program and save millions each year in almost every state. You want an issue to run with, there it is.

individuals should have recourse to unemployment compensation for simply being unemployed. snap should be for those for whom, that may not be enough.

 

[tigerred59]

Food stamp fraud began the day food stamps began. That does not mean there is no social benefit to the program.

Fraud exists anywhere money is involved, not just in government programs. If you buy and sell stocks, you are being defrauded by front running broker-dealers. Should we stop trading stocks?

Poor people and minorities don't deal in stocks, so the answer is NO

 

[depotoo]

Food stamp fraud began the day food stamps began. That does not mean there is no social benefit to the program.

Fraud exists anywhere money is involved, not just in government programs. If you buy and sell stocks, you are being defrauded by front running broker-dealers. Should we stop trading stocks?

Poor people and minorities don't deal in stocks, so the answer is NO

Went right over your head.

 

[tigerred59]

There are loads of freeloaders in this country.

These people cost the working people every day.

You want to talk about freeloaders...thus far Trump and his fucked up family has cost tax payers over 72 million dollars....and the orange bitch gets most of it, because its too his golf clubs. But idiots like you got no issues with it cause he's white and its only been 2 years in.

 

[tigerred59]

Food stamp fraud began the day food stamps began. That does not mean there is no social benefit to the program.

Fraud exists anywhere money is involved, not just in government programs. If you buy and sell stocks, you are being defrauded by front running broker-dealers. Should we stop trading stocks?

Poor people and minorities don't deal in stocks, so the answer is NO

Went right over your head.

I was simply co signing onto a comment.....food stamps fraud is an issue for discussion because it involves the poor and minorities....whereas stocks do not, so nobody addresses the fraudulent activities it entails....pay attention or go home

 

[Rustic]

And how much was it increased under the Surrender Monkey.....buying DemonRAT votes IMMEDIATELY comes to mind!

According to a new report produced by the Government and Accountability Office (GAO), at least $1 billion in food stamp benefits are "trafficked annually," meaning they are fraudulently used. The extent of the fraud is uncertain, the GAO warns, estimating the abuse of the program could be as high as $4.7 billion.

About 20 million lower-income households receive benefits from the $64 billion Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, to buy food. But GAO found that instead of being used for food, many stores are defrauding the program by "selling" cash instead of food.

"For example, a store might give a person $50 in exchange for $100 in benefits – then pocket the difference," GAO explains.

The Food Nutrition Service (FNS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees SNAP and is responsible for authorizing and overseeing retailers.

(Excerpt) Read more at freebeacon.com ...

Food stamp programs should be abolished

 

[Daryl Hunt]

https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/696433.pdf

Millions of households rely on the $64 billion Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, to buy food. But some stores are defrauding the program by "selling" cash instead of food. For example, a store might give a person $50 in exchange for $100 in benefits—then pocket the difference.

How widespread is this "retailer trafficking"? The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) reports that $1 billion in benefits are trafficked annually. However, the real extent is uncertain and could be anywhere from $960 million to $4.7 billion.

We recommended ways to improve how FNS measures and addresses trafficking.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Actions Needed to Better Measure and Address Retailer Trafficking

Wow, the misinformation express is busy, isn't it. Hate to break it to you but part of the Snap Program is the ability for the card holder to get X amount of cash each month. There is no conspiracy with any business. The freebeacon is so far down on the truth scale that it barely registers on the scale at all anymore.

Now, if you want to clean it up, I suggest you look into cutting off the cash along with the other things like Energy Drinks. There are a whole line of "Luxury" items on the list of allowable products that can be taken off of the program and save millions each year in almost every state. You want an issue to run with, there it is.

This whole thing is a "We think this is happening and we are going to look into it and here is how. This is a good thing and if it is happening wide scale them they can react to it and minimize it. It doesn't say that it's happening, just that it might be happening and does give some pretty outlandish figures. Since it hasn't been plastered all over the pages the actual numbers are probably unfounded. But it does probably happen but I doubt if the big box stores are involved who will get most of the sales.

 

[depotoo]

Well, it has prosecuted for it happening, as well as states-
12 Defendants Charged Federally with Collectively Receiving Over $20 Million from USDA by Fraudulently Trading Food Stamps for Cash

Twelve retail store owners, operators, and clerks, have been charged in connection with schemes to illegally redeem food stamp benefits in exchange for cash.


..........
https://sos.oregon.gov/audits/Documents/2018-18.pdf
June 2018
Prosecution and conviction of five merchants who committed SNAP fraud
• 59 SNAP recipients banned for life and 40 SNAP recipients banned for one year
• Over $525,000 in court-ordered restitution
• Over $1.7 million in future cost avoidance from banned recipients
• A $300,000 grant awarded to the Department of Human Services, which is the agency
responsible for investigating client SNAP fraud, to apply analytical methods in their SNAP investigation work


https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Inspector-General-Details.aspx?newsid=48
08/30/2018

State Inspector General Files Felony Charges in Food Stamp Trafficking Case


Found those on first page of search, so it is happening and being prosecuted

https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/696433.pdf

Millions of households rely on the $64 billion Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, to buy food. But some stores are defrauding the program by "selling" cash instead of food. For example, a store might give a person $50 in exchange for $100 in benefits—then pocket the difference.

How widespread is this "retailer trafficking"? The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) reports that $1 billion in benefits are trafficked annually. However, the real extent is uncertain and could be anywhere from $960 million to $4.7 billion.

We recommended ways to improve how FNS measures and addresses trafficking.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Actions Needed to Better Measure and Address Retailer Trafficking

Wow, the misinformation express is busy, isn't it. Hate to break it to you but part of the Snap Program is the ability for the card holder to get X amount of cash each month. There is no conspiracy with any business. The freebeacon is so far down on the truth scale that it barely registers on the scale at all anymore.

Now, if you want to clean it up, I suggest you look into cutting off the cash along with the other things like Energy Drinks. There are a whole line of "Luxury" items on the list of allowable products that can be taken off of the program and save millions each year in almost every state. You want an issue to run with, there it is.

This whole thing is a "We think this is happening and we are going to look into it and here is how. This is a good thing and if it is happening wide scale them they can react to it and minimize it. It doesn't say that it's happening, just that it might be happening and does give some pretty outlandish figures. Since it hasn't been plastered all over the pages the actual numbers are probably unfounded. But it does probably happen but I doubt if the big box stores are involved who will get most of the sales.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

Well, it has prosecuted for it happening, as well as states-
12 Defendants Charged Federally with Collectively Receiving Over $20 Million from USDA by Fraudulently Trading Food Stamps for Cash

Twelve retail store owners, operators, and clerks, have been charged in connection with schemes to illegally redeem food stamp benefits in exchange for cash.


..........
https://sos.oregon.gov/audits/Documents/2018-18.pdf
June 2018
Prosecution and conviction of five merchants who committed SNAP fraud
• 59 SNAP recipients banned for life and 40 SNAP recipients banned for one year
• Over $525,000 in court-ordered restitution
• Over $1.7 million in future cost avoidance from banned recipients
• A $300,000 grant awarded to the Department of Human Services, which is the agency
responsible for investigating client SNAP fraud, to apply analytical methods in their SNAP investigation work


https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Inspector-General-Details.aspx?newsid=48
08/30/2018

State Inspector General Files Felony Charges in Food Stamp Trafficking Case


Found those on first page of search, so it is happening and being prosecuted

https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/696433.pdf

Millions of households rely on the $64 billion Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, to buy food. But some stores are defrauding the program by "selling" cash instead of food. For example, a store might give a person $50 in exchange for $100 in benefits—then pocket the difference.

How widespread is this "retailer trafficking"? The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) reports that $1 billion in benefits are trafficked annually. However, the real extent is uncertain and could be anywhere from $960 million to $4.7 billion.

We recommended ways to improve how FNS measures and addresses trafficking.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Actions Needed to Better Measure and Address Retailer Trafficking

Wow, the misinformation express is busy, isn't it. Hate to break it to you but part of the Snap Program is the ability for the card holder to get X amount of cash each month. There is no conspiracy with any business. The freebeacon is so far down on the truth scale that it barely registers on the scale at all anymore.

Now, if you want to clean it up, I suggest you look into cutting off the cash along with the other things like Energy Drinks. There are a whole line of "Luxury" items on the list of allowable products that can be taken off of the program and save millions each year in almost every state. You want an issue to run with, there it is.

This whole thing is a "We think this is happening and we are going to look into it and here is how. This is a good thing and if it is happening wide scale them they can react to it and minimize it. It doesn't say that it's happening, just that it might be happening and does give some pretty outlandish figures. Since it hasn't been plastered all over the pages the actual numbers are probably unfounded. But it does probably happen but I doubt if the big box stores are involved who will get most of the sales.

Please don't top post. It makes it difficult to follow the conversation. If 20 have been apprehended then that's a good thing they have. But your links do show about 5 and none of them are chains. It appears that these are small privately owned stores.

Another item of interest, most of the illegal transactions involve soft drink sales and Energy Drinks. What the devil are those doing on a Snap program to begin with? I have commented on this before and no one seems to see that it is a problem. Well, it's a multi million dollar fraud problem. Get those two things OFF the Food Stamps or Snap list.

 

[depotoo]

Well, it has prosecuted for it happening, as well as states-
12 Defendants Charged Federally with Collectively Receiving Over $20 Million from USDA by Fraudulently Trading Food Stamps for Cash

Twelve retail store owners, operators, and clerks, have been charged in connection with schemes to illegally redeem food stamp benefits in exchange for cash.


..........
https://sos.oregon.gov/audits/Documents/2018-18.pdf
June 2018
Prosecution and conviction of five merchants who committed SNAP fraud
• 59 SNAP recipients banned for life and 40 SNAP recipients banned for one year
• Over $525,000 in court-ordered restitution
• Over $1.7 million in future cost avoidance from banned recipients
• A $300,000 grant awarded to the Department of Human Services, which is the agency
responsible for investigating client SNAP fraud, to apply analytical methods in their SNAP investigation work


https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Inspector-General-Details.aspx?newsid=48
08/30/2018

State Inspector General Files Felony Charges in Food Stamp Trafficking Case


Found those on first page of search, so it is happening and being prosecuted

https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/696433.pdf

Millions of households rely on the $64 billion Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, to buy food. But some stores are defrauding the program by "selling" cash instead of food. For example, a store might give a person $50 in exchange for $100 in benefits—then pocket the difference.

How widespread is this "retailer trafficking"? The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) reports that $1 billion in benefits are trafficked annually. However, the real extent is uncertain and could be anywhere from $960 million to $4.7 billion.

We recommended ways to improve how FNS measures and addresses trafficking.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Actions Needed to Better Measure and Address Retailer Trafficking

Wow, the misinformation express is busy, isn't it. Hate to break it to you but part of the Snap Program is the ability for the card holder to get X amount of cash each month. There is no conspiracy with any business. The freebeacon is so far down on the truth scale that it barely registers on the scale at all anymore.

Now, if you want to clean it up, I suggest you look into cutting off the cash along with the other things like Energy Drinks. There are a whole line of "Luxury" items on the list of allowable products that can be taken off of the program and save millions each year in almost every state. You want an issue to run with, there it is.

This whole thing is a "We think this is happening and we are going to look into it and here is how. This is a good thing and if it is happening wide scale them they can react to it and minimize it. It doesn't say that it's happening, just that it might be happening and does give some pretty outlandish figures. Since it hasn't been plastered all over the pages the actual numbers are probably unfounded. But it does probably happen but I doubt if the big box stores are involved who will get most of the sales.

Please don't top post. It makes it difficult to follow the conversation. If 20 have been apprehended then that's a good thing they have. But your links do show about 5 and none of them are chains. It appears that these are small privately owned stores.

Another item of interest, most of the illegal transactions involve soft drink sales and Energy Drinks. What the devil are those doing on a Snap program to begin with? I have commented on this before and no one seems to see that it is a problem. Well, it's a multi million dollar fraud problem. Get those two things OFF the Food Stamps or Snap list.

The report stated that about 90% was from small/convenience stores. I mentioned that earlier.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

Well, it has prosecuted for it happening, as well as states-
12 Defendants Charged Federally with Collectively Receiving Over $20 Million from USDA by Fraudulently Trading Food Stamps for Cash

Twelve retail store owners, operators, and clerks, have been charged in connection with schemes to illegally redeem food stamp benefits in exchange for cash.


..........
https://sos.oregon.gov/audits/Documents/2018-18.pdf
June 2018
Prosecution and conviction of five merchants who committed SNAP fraud
• 59 SNAP recipients banned for life and 40 SNAP recipients banned for one year
• Over $525,000 in court-ordered restitution
• Over $1.7 million in future cost avoidance from banned recipients
• A $300,000 grant awarded to the Department of Human Services, which is the agency
responsible for investigating client SNAP fraud, to apply analytical methods in their SNAP investigation work


https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Inspector-General-Details.aspx?newsid=48
08/30/2018

State Inspector General Files Felony Charges in Food Stamp Trafficking Case


Found those on first page of search, so it is happening and being prosecuted

https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/696433.pdf

Millions of households rely on the $64 billion Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, to buy food. But some stores are defrauding the program by "selling" cash instead of food. For example, a store might give a person $50 in exchange for $100 in benefits—then pocket the difference.

How widespread is this "retailer trafficking"? The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) reports that $1 billion in benefits are trafficked annually. However, the real extent is uncertain and could be anywhere from $960 million to $4.7 billion.

We recommended ways to improve how FNS measures and addresses trafficking.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Actions Needed to Better Measure and Address Retailer Trafficking

Wow, the misinformation express is busy, isn't it. Hate to break it to you but part of the Snap Program is the ability for the card holder to get X amount of cash each month. There is no conspiracy with any business. The freebeacon is so far down on the truth scale that it barely registers on the scale at all anymore.

Now, if you want to clean it up, I suggest you look into cutting off the cash along with the other things like Energy Drinks. There are a whole line of "Luxury" items on the list of allowable products that can be taken off of the program and save millions each year in almost every state. You want an issue to run with, there it is.

This whole thing is a "We think this is happening and we are going to look into it and here is how. This is a good thing and if it is happening wide scale them they can react to it and minimize it. It doesn't say that it's happening, just that it might be happening and does give some pretty outlandish figures. Since it hasn't been plastered all over the pages the actual numbers are probably unfounded. But it does probably happen but I doubt if the big box stores are involved who will get most of the sales.

Please don't top post. It makes it difficult to follow the conversation. If 20 have been apprehended then that's a good thing they have. But your links do show about 5 and none of them are chains. It appears that these are small privately owned stores.

Another item of interest, most of the illegal transactions involve soft drink sales and Energy Drinks. What the devil are those doing on a Snap program to begin with? I have commented on this before and no one seems to see that it is a problem. Well, it's a multi million dollar fraud problem. Get those two things OFF the Food Stamps or Snap list.

The report stated that about 90% was from small/convenience stores. I mentioned that earlier.

Yes you did. And I only stated that ALL of the sales found come from small, privately owned convenience stores. I think they used the 90% number just to cover themselves. It's not something that would go unnoticed at a chain store.

But I do notice that you still haven't commented on the product that is mostly purchased.

And thank you for bottom posting. It makes it easier for me to follow the conversation.

 

[CarlinAnnArbor]

And how much was it increased under the Surrender Monkey.....buying DemonRAT votes IMMEDIATELY comes to mind!

According to a new report produced by the Government and Accountability Office (GAO), at least $1 billion in food stamp benefits are "trafficked annually," meaning they are fraudulently used. The extent of the fraud is uncertain, the GAO warns, estimating the abuse of the program could be as high as $4.7 billion.

About 20 million lower-income households receive benefits from the $64 billion Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, to buy food. But GAO found that instead of being used for food, many stores are defrauding the program by "selling" cash instead of food.

"For example, a store might give a person $50 in exchange for $100 in benefits – then pocket the difference," GAO explains.

The Food Nutrition Service (FNS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees SNAP and is responsible for authorizing and overseeing retailers.

(Excerpt) Read more at freebeacon.com ...

Fix that and Demonrats get a free wall

 

[CarlinAnnArbor]

SSDI is about 300B. Many if not most have no visible disability

visible disability?

One you can see just by looking.

That doesn't mean they don't have a serious disability.

 

[depotoo]

Well, it has prosecuted for it happening, as well as states-
12 Defendants Charged Federally with Collectively Receiving Over $20 Million from USDA by Fraudulently Trading Food Stamps for Cash

Twelve retail store owners, operators, and clerks, have been charged in connection with schemes to illegally redeem food stamp benefits in exchange for cash.


..........
https://sos.oregon.gov/audits/Documents/2018-18.pdf
June 2018
Prosecution and conviction of five merchants who committed SNAP fraud
• 59 SNAP recipients banned for life and 40 SNAP recipients banned for one year
• Over $525,000 in court-ordered restitution
• Over $1.7 million in future cost avoidance from banned recipients
• A $300,000 grant awarded to the Department of Human Services, which is the agency
responsible for investigating client SNAP fraud, to apply analytical methods in their SNAP investigation work


https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Inspector-General-Details.aspx?newsid=48
08/30/2018

State Inspector General Files Felony Charges in Food Stamp Trafficking Case


Found those on first page of search, so it is happening and being prosecuted

https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/696433.pdf

Millions of households rely on the $64 billion Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, to buy food. But some stores are defrauding the program by "selling" cash instead of food. For example, a store might give a person $50 in exchange for $100 in benefits—then pocket the difference.

How widespread is this "retailer trafficking"? The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) reports that $1 billion in benefits are trafficked annually. However, the real extent is uncertain and could be anywhere from $960 million to $4.7 billion.

We recommended ways to improve how FNS measures and addresses trafficking.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Actions Needed to Better Measure and Address Retailer Trafficking

This whole thing is a "We think this is happening and we are going to look into it and here is how. This is a good thing and if it is happening wide scale them they can react to it and minimize it. It doesn't say that it's happening, just that it might be happening and does give some pretty outlandish figures. Since it hasn't been plastered all over the pages the actual numbers are probably unfounded. But it does probably happen but I doubt if the big box stores are involved who will get most of the sales.

Please don't top post. It makes it difficult to follow the conversation. If 20 have been apprehended then that's a good thing they have. But your links do show about 5 and none of them are chains. It appears that these are small privately owned stores.

Another item of interest, most of the illegal transactions involve soft drink sales and Energy Drinks. What the devil are those doing on a Snap program to begin with? I have commented on this before and no one seems to see that it is a problem. Well, it's a multi million dollar fraud problem. Get those two things OFF the Food Stamps or Snap list.

The report stated that about 90% was from small/convenience stores. I mentioned that earlier.

Yes you did. And I only stated that ALL of the sales found come from small, privately owned convenience stores. I think they used the 90% number just to cover themselves. It's not something that would go unnoticed at a chain store.

But I do notice that you still haven't commented on the product that is mostly purchased.

And thank you for bottom posting. It makes it easier for me to follow the conversation.

If the post is too long, it is easier on the pad to post up top.

I agree, there are many items that should not be included.

 

[danielpalos]

And how much was it increased under the Surrender Monkey.....buying DemonRAT votes IMMEDIATELY comes to mind!

According to a new report produced by the Government and Accountability Office (GAO), at least $1 billion in food stamp benefits are "trafficked annually," meaning they are fraudulently used. The extent of the fraud is uncertain, the GAO warns, estimating the abuse of the program could be as high as $4.7 billion.

About 20 million lower-income households receive benefits from the $64 billion Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, to buy food. But GAO found that instead of being used for food, many stores are defrauding the program by "selling" cash instead of food.

"For example, a store might give a person $50 in exchange for $100 in benefits – then pocket the difference," GAO explains.

The Food Nutrition Service (FNS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees SNAP and is responsible for authorizing and overseeing retailers.

(Excerpt) Read more at freebeacon.com ...

Food stamp programs should be abolished

So should homelessness in alleged Right to Work States.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

Well, it has prosecuted for it happening, as well as states-
12 Defendants Charged Federally with Collectively Receiving Over $20 Million from USDA by Fraudulently Trading Food Stamps for Cash

Twelve retail store owners, operators, and clerks, have been charged in connection with schemes to illegally redeem food stamp benefits in exchange for cash.


..........
https://sos.oregon.gov/audits/Documents/2018-18.pdf
June 2018
Prosecution and conviction of five merchants who committed SNAP fraud
• 59 SNAP recipients banned for life and 40 SNAP recipients banned for one year
• Over $525,000 in court-ordered restitution
• Over $1.7 million in future cost avoidance from banned recipients
• A $300,000 grant awarded to the Department of Human Services, which is the agency
responsible for investigating client SNAP fraud, to apply analytical methods in their SNAP investigation work


https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Inspector-General-Details.aspx?newsid=48
08/30/2018

State Inspector General Files Felony Charges in Food Stamp Trafficking Case


Found those on first page of search, so it is happening and being prosecuted

This whole thing is a "We think this is happening and we are going to look into it and here is how. This is a good thing and if it is happening wide scale them they can react to it and minimize it. It doesn't say that it's happening, just that it might be happening and does give some pretty outlandish figures. Since it hasn't been plastered all over the pages the actual numbers are probably unfounded. But it does probably happen but I doubt if the big box stores are involved who will get most of the sales.

Please don't top post. It makes it difficult to follow the conversation. If 20 have been apprehended then that's a good thing they have. But your links do show about 5 and none of them are chains. It appears that these are small privately owned stores.

Another item of interest, most of the illegal transactions involve soft drink sales and Energy Drinks. What the devil are those doing on a Snap program to begin with? I have commented on this before and no one seems to see that it is a problem. Well, it's a multi million dollar fraud problem. Get those two things OFF the Food Stamps or Snap list.

The report stated that about 90% was from small/convenience stores. I mentioned that earlier.

Yes you did. And I only stated that ALL of the sales found come from small, privately owned convenience stores. I think they used the 90% number just to cover themselves. It's not something that would go unnoticed at a chain store.

But I do notice that you still haven't commented on the product that is mostly purchased.

And thank you for bottom posting. It makes it easier for me to follow the conversation.

If the post is too long, it is easier on the pad to post up top.

I agree, there are many items that should not be included.

If it gets too long, trim it. It's not like we need to see the same thing over and over again.

Glad you did bring this up. The Feds are not the real problem for food stamps. It's the States that administer it. They can elect to clean it up. We place way too much blame and credit to the Federal Government on just about everything. Meanwhile we either take away the power that the state is supposed to have or allow the state to have too many outs.

 

[JoeB131]

Millions of households rely on the $64 billion Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, to buy food. But some stores are defrauding the program by "selling" cash instead of food. For example, a store might give a person $50 in exchange for $100 in benefits—then pocket the difference.

How widespread is this "retailer trafficking"? The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) reports that $1 billion in benefits are trafficked annually. However, the real extent is uncertain and could be anywhere from $960 million to $4.7 billion.

So we don't know, we are only guessing. Probably at the low end, since changing $100 into $50 is a bad deal.