Food stamp fraud grows in the U.S.
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Food stamp fraud grows in the U.S.
Jeremy Hobson:Here in this country, the cost of the federal food stamp program has doubled since the recession. 45 million Americans are now getting food assistance. And a recent report found evidence of fraud in the system.
That was the topic of a hearing on Capitol Hill yesterday, as Marketplace’s John Dimsdale reports.
John Dimsdale: The Agriculture Department estimates illegal food stamp schemes cost taxpayers $330 million a year. For example, stores sell prohibited items, like liquor or tobacco, in return for food stamp cash. Despite electronic tracking, fraud can be difficult to uncover.
At yesterday’s hearing, Pennsylvania’s Inspector General Kenya Faulkner, said some bars will accept food stamp cards and then take the cards to a local grocery store.
Kenya Faulkner: You never really see the bar or restaurant transaction. What you see is the recipient using to buy $200 worth of groceries at this particular grocery store. That’s a little hard to track.
Committee members, including chairman Darrell Issa, called for tougher enforcement, but without any extra money.
Darrell Issa: In fact, you’re going to have to do more for less. More oversight, more accountability.
House Republicans are backing a budget that would cut $127 billion from food stamps over 10 years.
In Washington, I’m John Dimsdale for Marketplace.
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