What keeps unqualified people from getting SNAP benefits?
A) There are several measures in place to ensure that only qualified individuals receive SNAP benefits:
- Income verification: Applicants are required to provide proof of income to determine eligibility for SNAP benefits. This includes pay stubs, tax returns, and other documents that verify income.
- Resource limits: SNAP also has limits on the amount of resources a household can have to be eligible for benefits. Resources include bank accounts, vehicles, and other property. These limits vary by state.
- Citizenship and residency requirements: To be eligible for SNAP, individuals must be citizens or legal residents of the United States and reside in the state where they are applying for benefits.
- Criminal history checks: SNAP also prohibits individuals convicted of certain crimes, such as drug-related offenses, from receiving benefits.
- Ongoing eligibility checks: SNAP benefits are not permanent and must be reevaluated periodically to ensure that recipients continue to meet the program’s eligibility requirements.
These measures help to ensure that SNAP benefits are going to those who truly need them and prevent fraud and abuse of the program.
As part of the commitment to program integrity, USDA works closely with the states to ensure they issue their benefits correctly. State workers carefully evaluate each application to determine eligibility and the appropriate level of benefits. USDA monitors the accuracy of eligibility and benefit determinations.
States that fail to meet standards for issuing their SNAP benefits correctly can be sanctioned by USDA and those exceeding the standard for payment accuracy can be eligible for additional funding support. People who receive SNAP benefits in error must repay any benefits for which they did not qualify.