The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation's largest domestic food and nutrition assistance program for low-income Americans. USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is committed to enhancing the program and aiding participants. As part of these efforts, FNS is pleased to announce the release of the 2024 Fraud Framework Implementation Grant (FFIG) request for applications, aimed at curbing recipient fraud.

USDA and the Biden-Harris Administration share a common goal to improving program integrity in SNAP, and safeguarding nutrition assistance for low-income Americans.

SNAP Fraud Framework Implementation Grant (FFIG)

The SNAP FFIGs offer up to $5 million in grants to empower state agencies to advance projects aligned with the seven components of the SNAP Fraud Framework. With a focus on combating emerging threats like card skimming schemes, state agencies are encouraged to submit proposals geared towards prevention, detection, and mitigation of benefit theft.

SNAP anticipates awarding between $150,000 and $750,000 each to up to 9 awardees in August 2024.

Last year's grant awards showcased innovative projects and impactful initiatives to combat recipient fraud. Review the summary of last year's grant awards for more information.

Application Details

The application period for the SNAP FFIG opens on April 23, 2024, and closes on June 24, 2024.

We encourage all eligible state agencies to explore this opportunity and submit applications to help strengthen SNAP operations and ensure eligible individuals and families receive the vital food assistance they need.

For more information and to apply, please visit Grants.gov.

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Summary

The purpose of the SNAP Fraud Framework Implementation Grant Program is to support state agency efforts to improve and expand recipient fraud prevention, detection, and investigation efforts using the procedures, ideas and practices outlined in the SNAP Fraud Framework.

1. Organizational Management: This objective aims to help states establish and communicate priorities, organize employees, and manage both large-scale and day-to-day processes. Many of the concepts described in this component are the foundation for successful program integrity initiatives.
2. Performance Measurement: This objective offers recommendations encouraging states to consistently capture and analyze their own performance.
3. Recipient Integrity Education: This objective provides targeted integrity education initiatives to help ensure recipients have the necessary information and tools to use SNAP benefits as intended—preventing fraud before it occurs. When producing recipient integrity education materials, states are encouraged to educate the public and applicants about SNAP fraud, rather than emphasize the consequences as a deterrent to applying.
4. Fraud Detection: Here, the SNAP Fraud Framework stresses the importance of proactively detecting fraud from the application process and continuing throughout the recipient’s time in the Program.
5. Investigations and Dispositions: This objective aims to provide states with tools and suggestions to improve fraud case management from initial fraud referral through disposition.
6. Analytics and Data Management: This objective details the necessary people, processes, and technology to launch and maintain an analytics capability. Data analytics can play a valuable role in preventing, detecting, and investigating SNAP fraud.
7. Learning and Development: The final objective contains recommendations for states to invest in training and professional development opportunities to promote employee engagement and to ensure employees are aware of new and emerging trends in fraud.

Eligibility

County or state governments. This grant opportunity is only open to state agencies that administer SNAP, consistent with the SNAP regulatory definition of “State agency” at 7 CFR 271.2. 

For state agencies that are county-administered, a county agency that submits an application must include a letter of commitment or letter of endorsement from the relevant SNAP agency with the application package to be considered for funding. 

States that are county-administered include: California, Colorado, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin. FNS will consider only one application per state agency.

Past Awards

For reference, the press release for SNAP Fraud Framework awards made in previous fiscal years can be found at the following links:

• FY 2023 Awards
• FY 2021 Awards
• FY 2020 Awards
• FY 2019 Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 27, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service announced today that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, households will have added protection from stolen benefits through Sep. 30, 2024, as the agency officially approved all SNAP state agencies’ plans for replacing benefits stolen via card skimming, card cloning and other similar crimes. This is a vital and necessary step in ensuring victims of fraudulent activities continue to have access to food.  

USDA acknowledges the hardships faced by victims of SNAP fraud and is determined to support them while simultaneously combating fraud at its root source. Congress passed a law in late December 2022, that provided for replacements of stolen SNAP benefits resulting from card skimming or similar methods. The law required SNAP state agencies to submit a plan to FNS for how they will implement that requirement.  

“Protecting the integrity of our nutrition assistance programs is a top priority for FNS,” said Stacy Dean, USDA deputy under secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. “SNAP fraud is a despicable crime that takes advantage of families with low income. We are collaborating closely with state agencies to ensure that participants facing these hardships receive the support they need.”

FNS carefully reviewed plans to replace stolen benefits, working closely with states to clarify information, ensure their plans met all requirements prior to approval, and provide prompt replacement and enhanced protection of SNAP benefits. FNS has now approved all plans from the 50 states, D.C., Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which means that all state agencies officially have the authority to use federal funds to replace stolen SNAP benefits. More information about estimated plan implementation dates for each state agency’s plan is available on the FNS website. FNS also encourages state agencies to develop plans and proposals to prevent, detect and address card skimming by educating recipients.

FNS is committed to upholding the integrity of the program and combating fraud by working closely with state and federal partners, law enforcement, SNAP retailers, Electronic Benefits Transfer (or EBT) card processors, and industry experts. To bolster SNAP’s security and address fraud that targets SNAP recipients, other actions USDA has taken include:

• In March 2023, USDA announced a partnership with five states to pilot mobile contactless payments in SNAP. Program participants in Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri and Oklahoma will have the option to use mobile payments methods – like tapping or scanning their personal phones – instead of their physical EBT cards. This technology has the potential to help protect families from having their SNAP benefits stolen because of card skimming.
• FNS awarded nearly $3.1 million in SNAP Fraud Framework Implementation grants to five states – Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Texas and Wisconsin – to fund new projects to improve recipient fraud prevention, detection and investigation efforts. Three of these grants focus on the prevention of card skimming by developing media campaigns to educate recipients about the security of their EBT cards and implementing new optional EBT card features.
• FNS is providing technical support to SNAP state agencies exploring and implementing chip-enabled cards.  

Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA has made significant strides in enhancing SNAP by modernizing, protecting and reinforcing its impact. USDA remains unwavering in its dedication to strengthening SNAP, protecting vulnerable households and combating fraud. Together with state and federal partners, USDA will continue to innovate and evolve SNAP to provide meaningful assistance to those in need.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and improve food and nutrition security through a suite of 16 nutrition assistance programs, such as the school breakfast and lunch programs, WIC and SNAP. Together, these programs serve 1 in 4 Americans over the course of a year, promoting consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable food essential to optimal health and well-being. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. FNS’s report, “Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security: The Role of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service,” highlights ways the agency will support the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022. To learn more about FNS, visit www.fns.usda.gov and follow @USDANutrition. 

Related Resources

• Replacement of Stolen Benefits Data Visualization Dashboard
   

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Atlanta, GA, September 20, 2023 – The Southeast Regional Office of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service has awarded the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) $421,471 to help improve their recipient fraud prevention, detection and investigation efforts by implementing principles from the SNAP Fraud Framework. The award is designed to support Mississippi as officials develop new efforts or improve on existing ones.

“FNS values the ability of SNAP in helping people afford nutritious food that is essential to their health and well-being,” said Southeast Regional Administrator Willie C. Taylor, USDA Food and Nutrition Service. “The SNAP Fraud Framework Grant will help provide MDHS with the tools they need to reinforce and intensify their efforts to prevent, detect, and eliminate fraud in Mississippi.”

FNS is committed to expanding and improving efforts to combat fraud in the delivery of these critical nutrition assistance benefits. The SNAP Fraud Framework provides states tools and options they can implement to improve program operations and outcomes.

"This Grant will allow MDHS to develop and implement a SNAP Fraud Prevention Training and Education Program aimed to decrease SNAP fraud within the state by informing, educating, and training MDHS staff, SNAP applicants and recipients, and the general public on how to prevent, detect and deter SNAP fraud," said Sandra Griffith, Inspector General and Principal Deputy Executive Director, Mississippi Department of Human Services.

MDHS will use the funding to educate SNAP recipients on SNAP fraud through various channels. Additionally, MDHS will establish semi-annual training for county offices to equip them with the information needed to proactively prevent and recognize fraud during the application stages and develop e-training modules to educate and inform staff on how to handle client complaints regarding EBT skimming.

The awards will support new projects under any of the seven components of the SNAP Fraud Framework, which include organizational management, performance measurement, recipient integrity education, fraud detection, investigations and dispositions, analytics, data management, and learning and development.

Grantees plan to use their funds in a variety of ways. For example, states will:

• Utilize media campaigns to educate recipients about the security of their Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, cards.
• Establish trainings for county offices to proactively prevent and recognize fraud during the application stages.
• Implement new features in EBT technology to reduce the impacts of stolen SNAP benefits through electronic methods, including card skimming, card cloning and other similar methods.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and improve food and nutrition security through a suite of more than 16 nutrition assistance programs, such as the school breakfast and lunch programs, WIC and SNAP. Together, these programs serve 1 in 4 Americans over the course of a year, promoting consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable food essential to optimal health and well-being. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. FNS’s report, “Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security: The Role of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service,” highlights ways the agency will support the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022. To learn more about FNS, visit www.fns.usda.gov and follow @USDANutrition.

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Chicago, Sept. 15, 2023 – The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has awarded the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

(MDHHS) $749,987 to help improve their recipient fraud prevention, detection and investigation efforts by implementing principles from the SNAP Fraud Framework. The SNAP Fraud Framework provides states tools and options they can implement in order to improve program operations and outcomes.

FNS is committed to expanding and improving efforts to combat fraud in the delivery of these critical nutrition assistance benefits.

“SNAP is a cornerstone of the USDA nutrition assistance programs,” said FNS Midwest Regional Administrator Dr. Vista Suarez Fletcher. “We congratulate Michigan on being selected for this grant which will enable MDHHS to further strengthen its program through innovative efforts to prevent and detect fraud.”

The award will support Michigan on a variety of program integrity efforts. The MDHHS-Office of Inspector General (OIG) will invest in computer forensic examiner software and hardware to assist in cybercrimes associated with SNAP, and OIG will collaborate with MDHHS’ Economic Stability Administration to provide targeted education using media campaigns to inform recipients about the security of their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. OIG investigators and managers will attend a nationally recognized training course on investigative interviewing techniques. Michigan will also implement and test their EBT vendor’s integrated fraud management tool that pairs with the EBT distribution system for fraud control and monitoring. The tool provides analytics, monitoring, alerts, and cardholder notification of potentially fraudulent activities which will allow MDHHS to better monitor and identify potential skimming, trafficking, and/or cloning of EBT cards.

“Michigan is committed to helping families in need put food on the table,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “This grant will help improve recipient fraud prevention, detection and investigation efforts for Michigan’s SNAP program, which will help ensure these benefits are being used properly and beneficiaries are not affected by bad actors fraudulently using their benefits.”

Michigan is one of five states awarded a SNAP Fraud Framework Implementation Grant. Each state will use the grant funds to support new fraud prevention projects that fall under any of the seven components of the SNAP Fraud Framework: organizational management, performance measurement, recipient integrity education, fraud detection, investigations and dispositions, analytics and data management, and learning and development.

Grantees will use funds in a variety of ways. For example, states will:

• Utilize media campaigns to educate recipients about the security of their EBT, cards.
• Establish trainings for county offices to proactively prevent and recognize fraud during the application stages.
• Implement new features in EBT technology to reduce the impacts of stolen SNAP benefits through electronic methods, including card skimming, card cloning and other similar methods.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and improve food and nutrition security through a suite of more than 16 nutrition assistance programs, such as the school breakfast and lunch programs, WIC and SNAP. Together, these programs serve 1 in 4 Americans over the course of a year, promoting consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable food essential to optimal health and well-being. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. FNS’s report, “Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security: The Role of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service,” highlights ways the agency will support the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022. To learn more about FNS, visit www.fns.usda.gov and follow @USDANutrition.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Chicago, Sept. 15, 2023 – The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has awarded the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS)

$662,689 to help improve their recipient fraud prevention, detection and investigation efforts by implementing principles from the SNAP Fraud Framework. The SNAP Fraud Framework provides states tools and options they can implement in order to improve program operations and outcomes.

FNS is committed to expanding and improving efforts to combat fraud in the delivery of these critical nutrition assistance benefits.

“SNAP is a cornerstone of the USDA nutrition assistance programs,” said FNS Midwest Regional Administrator Dr. Vista Suarez Fletcher. “We applaud DHS’ commitment to program integrity, and congratulate Wisconsin on being selected for this grant for the second consecutive year enabling DHS to further strengthen its program through innovative efforts to prevent and detect fraud.”

The award will support Wisconsin in the development of new Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card features for recipients. The new features include Personal Identification Number (PIN) updates, opt-in protections for out-of-state SNAP transactions, and cardholder text alerts and education. These tools will aim to reduce the impacts of stolen SNAP benefits through electronic means, including card skimming, card cloning, and similar fraudulent methods.

“We appreciate FNS for supporting our fraud prevention and investigation efforts,” said DHS Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson. “This grant allows us to enhance protections already in place with new tools to further safeguard the integrity of our FoodShare program and ensure our members are able to buy the food they need.”

Wisconsin is one of five states awarded a SNAP Fraud Framework Implementation Grant. Each state will use the grant funds to support new fraud prevention projects that fall under any of the seven components of the SNAP Fraud Framework: organizational management, performance measurement, recipient integrity education, fraud detection, investigations and dispositions, analytics and data management, and learning and development.

Grantees will use funds in a variety of ways. For example, states will:

• Utilize media campaigns to educate recipients about the security of their EBT, cards.
• Establish trainings for county offices to proactively prevent and recognize fraud during the application stages.
• Implement new features in EBT technology to reduce the impacts of stolen SNAP benefits through electronic methods, including card skimming, card cloning and other similar methods.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and improve food and nutrition security through a suite of more than 16 nutrition assistance programs, such as the school breakfast and lunch programs, WIC and SNAP. Together, these programs serve 1 in 4 Americans over the course of a year, promoting consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable food essential to optimal health and well-being. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. FNS’s report, “Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security: The Role of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service,” highlights ways the agency will support the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022. To learn more about FNS, visit www.fns.usda.gov and follow @USDANutrition.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Denver, Colo., Sept. 15, 2023 – The Mountain Plains Regional Office of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service has awarded the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) $537,504 to help improve recipient fraud prevention, detection and investigation efforts by implementing principles from the SNAP Fraud Framework. The award is designed to support Colorado as officials develop new efforts or improve on existing ones.

“There is no simple solution to combat fraud and each state may require a different approach to improve program integrity,” said Cheryl Kennedy, USDA Food and Nutrition Service regional administrator. “The SNAP Fraud Framework provides states with a toolkit designed to help them prevent and detect SNAP recipient fraud and sharpen their investigative techniques.”

FNS is committed to expanding and improving efforts to combat fraud in the delivery of these critical nutrition assistance benefits. The SNAP Fraud Framework provides states tools and options they can implement in order to improve program operations and outcomes.

“The SNAP Fraud Framework grant will support our efforts in continuing SNAP fraud prevention and response,” said Karla Maraccini, CDHS Food and Energy Assistance division director. “It’s critical that we continue to ensure Coloradans have the information to help prevent fraud before it occurs, and the grant will allow us to continue these efforts.”

Using the grant dollars, CDHS will develop a database that contains all transaction information from EBT cards to provide state EBT staff and all 64 counties with data for analytic-driven decision making. Reports, dashboards, and alerts will be made available accordingly for the state EBT investigation team and county workers. These reporting features will be used by staff to identify, prioritize, and investigate potential client fraud. The features will also allow staff to track outcomes of investigations to confirm prioritization.

The awards will support new projects under any of the seven components of the SNAP Fraud Framework, which include organizational management, performance measurement, recipient integrity education, fraud detection, investigations and dispositions, analytics and data management, and learning and development.

Grantees plan to use their funds in a variety of ways. For example, states will:

• Utilize media campaigns to educate recipients about the security of their Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, cards.
• Establish trainings for county offices to proactively prevent and recognize fraud during the application stages.
• Implement new features in EBT technology to reduce the impacts of stolen SNAP benefits through electronic methods, including card skimming, card cloning and other similar methods.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and improve food and nutrition security through a suite of more than 16 nutrition assistance programs, such as the school breakfast and lunch programs, WIC and SNAP. Together, these programs serve 1 in 4 Americans over the course of a year, promoting consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable food essential to optimal health and well-being. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. FNS’s report, “Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security: The Role of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service,” highlights ways the agency will support the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022. To learn more about FNS, visit www.fns.usda.gov and follow @USDANutrition.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.