These SNAP and Food Stamp Program Quality Control annual reports present official quality control error rates and other statistical data derived from SNAP QC reviews conducted for each fiscal year.
The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 set a tolerance level, or threshold, for excluding small errors from calculation of the SNAP payment error rate. Beginning with fiscal year 2015, the threshold has been adjusted annually to correspond with changes in the Thrifty Food Plan for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia.
SNAP’s QC system uses a tolerance level to set the threshold for determining which errors are included in the national payment error rate calculation. The first year the TFP based adjustment will occur is FY 2015. FNS is adjusting the threshold using the TFP for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. FNS calculated the percentage change between the June 30, 2013 TFP (FY 2014) and the June 30, 2014 TFP (FY 2015). FNS has applied that percentage to the $37 QC tolerance level, which results in an increase to $38.
The SNAP QC system use a tolerance level to set a monetary threshold for determining which QC errors are included in the calculation of payment error rates. This threshold is adjusted annually to correspond with changes in the Thrifty Food Plan.
Strengthening SNAP: Grant Opportunity for States
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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FY 2024 SNAP Fraud Framework Implementation Grant
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.
- 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.
- Performance Measurement: This objective offers recommendations encouraging states to consistently capture and analyze their own performance.
- 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.
- 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.
- Investigations and Dispositions: This objective aims to provide states with tools and suggestions to improve fraud case management from initial fraud referral through disposition.
- 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.
- 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:
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.
FNS is conducting a study, Understanding Risk Assessment in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Payment Accuracy, to develop a comprehensive picture of whether and how SNAP state agencies use RA tools and determine if these tools create disparate impacts on protected classes.
States are responsible for meeting federal SNAP requirements for timely processing of applications. This resource summarizes the valuable information contributed by participating states.
States are responsible for maintaining the integrity of SNAP by issuing accurate benefits to eligible households. This resource summarizes the valuable information contributed by participating states.