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3d ago

USDA Implements Stricter SNAP Verification to Block Ineligible Applicants

New federal guidance mandates states to enhance identity and immigration status checks, aligning with President Trump's executive order targeting improper benefit payments.

A sign alerting customers about SNAP food stamps benefits is displayed at a Brooklyn grocery store on December 5, 2019 in New York City.
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Overview

  • The USDA has issued new guidance requiring state SNAP agencies to verify applicants' identities and immigration status using Social Security numbers, the Death Master File, and DHS's SAVE system.
  • The guidance enforces President Trump's February 2025 executive order aimed at preventing illegal aliens from accessing taxpayer-funded benefits like SNAP.
  • A 2024 GAO report found $10.5 billion in improper SNAP payments in fiscal year 2023, largely due to eligibility verification failures by states.
  • Immigrant advocacy groups warn that the stricter verification measures could harm lawfully present families and exacerbate hunger and healthcare challenges.
  • The Trump administration has also directed the Social Security Administration to expand fraud prosecutions and strengthen integrity measures across federal benefit programs.