Summary
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has instructed Minnesota to recheck all SNAP beneficiaries within 30 days due to a fraud scandal. This includes a pilot program in select counties to ensure eligibility and prevent future fraud in the food assistance program.
Key Facts
- The USDA ordered Minnesota to recertify all SNAP recipients within 30 days.
- This order came after a fraud scandal involving misuse of federally funded nutrition programs.
- More than 60 individuals were convicted of fraud during the pandemic related to a nutrition program.
- The pilot recertification program targets specific counties in Minnesota: Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington, and Wright.
- SNAP recertification involves verifying income, household details, and eligibility factors.
- The USDA uses tools like the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database in this process.
- The extent of SNAP fraud in Minnesota is not clearly known from the letter.
- The state must determine the eligibility of SNAP households in the specified counties.
