BPI recovers SNAP overpayments

Families in need get help buying food with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Benefit amounts are based on an applicant’s household size, income, assets and other factors. However, applicants who provide incomplete or inaccurate information may see their application delayed or denied. Deliberately providing wrong information on a benefits application is considered fraud and can result in program disqualification, fines and criminal charges.

The OIG's Benefits Program Integrity (BPI) unit investigates allegations of overpayments to SNAP clients. SNAP investigations resolved recently include:

Failing to report income. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, BPI resolved a case where a client failed to report her son’s father and his income as part of her benefits applications for SNAP, Medicaid and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). BPI investigators interviewed multiple witnesses and utilized Texas Department of Public Safety records, Texas Department of Motor Vehicle records and employment verifications to substantiate that the client failed to report the father’s living status and his income from September 2016 through September 2019.

Based on available corroborating evidence, the case was presented to the Jones County District Attorney; the client was found guilty of securing the execution of a document by deception. The client was sentenced to two years in jail, which was suspended in exchange for three years of community supervision, disqualification from the SNAP program for 12 months, and payment of the full restitution of $30,297.

Falsifying SNAP application. BPI investigated a client in Bexar County who concealed information and falsified applications for SNAP benefits. From January 2015 to August 2019, the client claimed her household consisted of only herself and her five children. The investigation proved the father of the client’s children was living in the household as well and had additional reportable income. The client signed a Waiver of Disqualification Hearing this year, agreed to pay $51,615 in restitution and was disqualified from SNAP for 12 months.

SNAP applicants can avoid costly mistakes by reading the benefits guide the OIG produced in English and Spanish.