State and county agencies overseeing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program now spend an average of $4.29 for every $1 in benefits lost to fraud, marking the highest cost reported in five years, according to a LexisNexis Risk Solutions study released Sept. 22.
The survey of 150 senior state and county SNAP agency decision-makers found agencies squeezed between competing mandates: improve payment accuracy, protect taxpayer funds and deliver benefits faster, all while implementing new federal requirements.
Increasinglycomplex eligibility rules and sophisticated fraud schemes have strained agency resources. Haywood Talcove, chief executive officer for government at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, said the real cost of fraud extends beyond stolen benefits.
"Agencies must make faster, more accurate decisions," Talcove said. "Successful outcomes require more than just technology. Stronger results come when modernization is combined with trusted identity, income and eligibility intelligence."
Agencies are also bracing for policy changes from H.R. 1, which would affect SNAP eligibility requirements and program administration. The research indicates that payment accuracy, administrative efficiency, program integrity and timely benefit delivery are interconnected—creating pressure on state and county officials to juggle all four simultaneously.
Access to authoritative identity, income and eligibility data can help agencies make better decisions faster, reduce administrative burden and protect resources for eligible families, the study found.
