Halls of Shrewd'm / US Policy
No. of Recommendations: 5
USDA head says ‘everyone’ on SNAP will now have to reapply
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Thursday said the Trump administration is planning to have all Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries reapply for the program due to alleged fraud.
The secretary said after receiving data on SNAP recipients from 29 red states that “186,000 deceased men and women and children in this country are receiving a check.”
“Can you imagine when we get our hands on the blue state data what we’re going to find?” she asked during a Thursday appearance on Newsmax’s “Rob Schmitt Tonight.”https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/usda-head-says...Expect the same sort of scrutiny of your voting registration, and for the Social Security and Medicare benefits you may be receiving.
Steve
No. of Recommendations: 0
Steve,
SNAP was intended to provide temporary support for people in great need.
Aside from supposedly being lots of deceased people still getting benefits, for 42 million people to be receiving it, there must be a huge amount of fraud involved.
Working off the books (or spouse doing so) and not listing that unreported income on your SNAP application? FRAUD.
Getting cash payments from your baby daddy who doesn't live with you and not reporting that income? FRAUD.
Selling drugs for cash and not reporting that income on your SNAP app.? FRAUD.
Totally legit person or family in need? Application probably will take all of 5 minutes to fill out on line. No problem.
No. of Recommendations: 2
Totally legit person or family in need? Application probably will take all of 5 minutes to fill out on line. No problem.
And if your working off books, getting cash supports payments, selling drugs, you can reapply too. :)
No. of Recommendations: 3
Expect the same sort of scrutiny of your voting registration, and for the Social Security and Medicare benefits you may be receiving.
Steve
----------------
Are you suggesting the benefits once conferred are eternal and not subject to periodic verification?
No. of Recommendations: 6
there must be a huge amount of fraud involved.
Or a lot of people working for "JCs" who don't pay for spit. There was a post on the Fool METaR board, a while back, about the challenges of trying to make a living at Walmart. According to the post, most people are kept under 40 hours/week, so they are classified as "part time", with reduced benefits. Work schedules are uneven, so you may work 35 hours one week, and 5 hours the next. Several years ago, there was an uproar because a memo from Walmart management came to light, that directed employees to apply for food stamps and Medicaid, so that we taxpayers were, in effect, subsidizing Walmart's payroll.
Steve
No. of Recommendations: 8
Are you suggesting the benefits once conferred are eternal and not subject to periodic verification?
SNAP benefits are currently subject to periodic verification, typically every six months. iirc, the article mentions that. The difference is that the Ag Dept head is apparently demanding everyone prove their eligibility, right now.
the net sifter, on the recertification process:
To demonstrate the continued need for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, recipients must go through a recertification process with the state agency responsible for the program. This process typically involves completing a renewal form, attending an interview, and providing current documentation to verify ongoing eligibility.
The SNAP Recertification Process
The process generally follows these steps:
Receive a Notice of Expiration: Your state agency (Texas Health and Human Services Commission in Texas) is required to send a notice at least a month before your benefits are set to expire, along with information on how to renew.
Complete a Recertification Form: You must fill out and submit a recertification application. This form updates your household's information, including income, expenses, and household size. In Texas, you can do this online via your Your Texas Benefits account, have a paper form mailed to you by calling 2-1-1, or submit it in person.
Attend an Interview: The local SNAP office may require an interview, which can be done by phone or in person, to verify the information provided in your application.
Provide Verification Documents: You will need to provide current proof of your financial situation and household circumstances.
Required Documentation To demonstrate continued need, you may need to provide documents that verify the following, if anything has changed since your last application or if requested:
Proof of income: Recent pay stubs (e.g., last 3 pay stubs), an employer statement, or self-employment records.
Proof of expenses: Current rent or mortgage statements, utility bills, dependent care expenses, and medical costs for elderly or disabled household members.
Household information: Documentation for all household members, including identity, residency, and citizenship status.
Bank statements: Most current statements for all bank accounts.
Work Requirements
For many adults, continued eligibility also depends on meeting specific work requirements unless exempt. In Texas, able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) generally must:
Work or participate in a work program at least 20 hours per week (80 hours per month).
Receive pay equal to the federal minimum wage at 20 hours per week.
If you are a SNAP recipient in Texas, you can manage your case, check renewal dates, and submit forms through your Your Texas Benefits online account or mobile app
Is the department going to ramp up staffing to handle the surge of everyone reapplying at once, or are people going to do without SNAP benefits, until they can get in for that face to face interview, in weeks, or months? As the Secretary claims there is "rampant" fraud, which implies the current system is not rigorous enough, what additional hoops will she demand people jump through to receive benefits?
Steve
No. of Recommendations: 3
Is the department going to ramp up staffing to handle the surge of everyone reapplying at once, or are people going to do without SNAP benefits, until they can get in for that face to face interview, in weeks, or months? As the Secretary claims there is "rampant" fraud, which implies the current system is not rigorous enough, what additional hoops will she demand people jump through to receive benefits?
Steve
----------------
Thanks Steve, there is a difference between being subject to verification every six month and an actual verification being performed every six months or ever for that matter. We are not informed of the actual frequency or if there is a regular ongoing schedule. I am glad there is a process but how it is being used is the question.
The key is to have regular periodic scheduled recertification, say 50% of the recipients each year. sufficient to keep the fraud and error levels down. There is no way the Dept of Ag has the resources to process all 43 million recertifications in any reasonable amount of time. It makes them look silly to imply otherwise.
PS - I note your excerpt is from the Texas process, a well run Red state. I wonder if a blue state, say California, has a similar process. I would bet No.
No. of Recommendations: 7
PS - I note your excerpt is from the Texas process, a well run Red state. I wonder if a blue state, say California, has a similar process. I would bet No.
The net is a wonderful thing. Here's the process in Cali. Only significant difference I see is there is a 12 month review cycle. People still receive a notice they need to reapply. They need to fill out forms and provide supporting documents. They still are required to do the interview, tho some disabled and elderly are exempted from the interview.
To recertify for California SNAP (CalFresh),log in to BenefitsCal.com, find the "Submit Recertification" or "Start your recertification" option, and complete the online application by the due date. You may also need to complete an interview, either by phone or in person, and submit any requested verification documents.
Step-by-step recertification process
Receive the recertification packet: A packet is sent to you before your certification period ends. For most households, this is a 12-month period, but it can be longer for certain elderly or disabled households.
Complete the online application:
Log in to your account at BenefitsCal.com.
Navigate to the "Things to do" section and click on "Submit Recertification".
Click the "Start your recertification" link to begin.
Fill out all required sections, including your current contact information, household members, income, and expenses.
Submit any required documents: Uploading documents is not always required to submit, but it is often needed to complete the process.
Complete the interview: The county will contact you to schedule an interview, which can be done over the phone or in person. Some elderly or disabled households may have this requirement waived. Answering a call from the county is the quickest way to complete this step.
Meet the deadline: Submit your recertification application by the due date specified in the instructions to avoid a gap in your benefits.
Key things to remember
Be proactive: It is best to start the process before your current benefits expire.
Check BenefitsCal: The online portal is the main way to manage your application and will show you what is due.
Stay in contact: Respond promptly to any communication from the county to ensure a smooth renewal
The Secretary said the "rampant" fraud she claims to have found was all in red states. She has not seen data from blue states, only assumes it will be worse.
For the halibut, here's the process for Michigan, a purple state.
To recertify for Michigan SNAP benefits, you must complete and submit the recertification packet you receive in the mail before your certification period ends. The process involves filling out the form, providing any necessary documents (like proof of income or household changes), and completing a recertification interview if required. You can submit the paperwork online or by mail.
Step 1: Complete and submit the recertification packet
You will receive a recertification packet a few weeks before your benefits expire.
Fill out, sign, and return the form by mail or online.
Gather and submit any requested documents to verify information like current income, household changes, or expenses for shelter, childcare, and medical costs.
Step 2: Complete the recertification interview
An interview is often required to verify the information on your form.
Your local SNAP office will contact you to schedule an interview at least 11 days before your benefits expire.
Failure to complete the interview may result in a loss of benefits.
Note: Some households, such as those with individuals aged 60 or older, may be exempt from the interview.
Step 3: Keep your contact information updated
Ensure your local SNAP office has your correct contact information so they can reach you about your recertification.
If you don't receive a letter, call the office to schedule an interview
The blurb doesn't say it, so I checked separately for the reapplication cycle in Michigan: varies from 6 to 12 months.
Remember, a couple weeks ago, when Trump was chafing about paying SNAP? He could find $20B to bail out Argentina. He could find money to pay bonuses to air traffic controllers who had worked without pay. But when it came to SNAP, "no money", he said. He didn't even want to use the emergency fund that the Ag Dept had in hand.
After watching his performance, I speculated that, having killed the extra ACA subsidy, what will he take away from Proles next? My suspicion was SNAP. Well, here we are, looking for ways to take people off SNAP.
Steve
No. of Recommendations: 9
I wonder if a blue state, say California, has a similar process. I would bet No.
You lose Michael. I lived in Texas when I was Young.
net sifter overview
In California, the standard SNAP (CalFresh) recertification frequency is 12 months. However, some households with elderly or disabled members have a 24-month period, and those with only elderly/disabled members and no earned income are certified for 36 months.
California removes deceased individuals from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as CalFresh, through a combination of required public reporting and systematic data matching with other government agencies, including the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Sounds well run, eh Mike? ;P
