Texas Awarded Grant To Help Prevent SNAP Fraud

AUSTIN – Texas Health and Human Services was recently awarded $336,994 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prevent and reduce fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Texas was among ten states chosen to pilot new strategies in prevention and fraud detection within the food assistance program. The funds will be used to support HHSC’s public benefit integrity initiatives by creating outreach materials and supplementing staff training and resources to help them better identify fraud.

“Food assistance is a lifeline to many families trying to make ends meet,” said Wayne Salter, HHSC deputy executive commissioner for Access and Eligibility Services. “By safeguarding the integrity of the program we’re better able to help people who truly need it.”

HHSC’s Public Benefit Integrity Unit works to prevent inaccurate benefit issuance through professional staff training, recipient education and case review. Essential components of this approach include educating staff on new and emerging trends in fraud and providing recipients the necessary information and tools to use SNAP benefits as intended. This combination helps prevent fraud before it occurs.

SNAP provides food assistance to approximately 1.5 million eligible low-income individuals and families in Texas, with monthly benefits worth nearly $400 million.

For information on SNAP eligibility, visit YourTexasBenefits.com. Texas residents can also dial 2-1-1 to learn about programs and services.