FNS Awards $750,000 to Wyoming to Improve Fraud Prevention, Detection in SNAP

DENVER, Colo. August 10, 2022 – USDA Food and Nutrition Service today awarded Wyoming a SNAP Fraud Framework Implementation Grant. This investment will help the state improve its recipient fraud prevention, detection, and investigation efforts by implementing principles from the SNAP Fraud Framework, a toolkit designed to help states prevent and detect fraud and sharpen their investigative techniques.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, has zero tolerance for fraud and continues to work with its state partners to implement measures to improve program integrity. While most recipients are eligible and use their benefits as intended, there are some who violate program rules.

“USDA and the Biden-Harris Administration are committed to program integrity in SNAP,” said Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Cindy Long. “These awards are critical in providing states with the tools they need to combat fraud in the delivery of nutrition assistance benefits.”

The Wyoming Department of Family Services will receive $750,000 to Develop a Front-End Eligibility (FEE) Investigation process utilizing various tools including Accuity Asset Verification Services (AVS). The FEE Investigations process will allow state staff to quickly review questionable cases to verify information provided by applicants and/or identify undeclared assets.

“We applaud Wyoming on this commitment to program integrity,” said Cheryl Kennedy, Food and Nutrition Service Mountain Plains Regional Administrator. “SNAP is a cornerstone of the USDA nutrition assistance programs. This grant award enables Wyoming to further strengthen its program through innovative efforts to prevent and detect fraud. Together through our federal-state partnership, we are committed to reaching eligible individuals and families and improving food and nutrition security.”

Additional grants are being awarded to:

• Texas Health and Human Services Commission
• Wisconsin Department of Health Services
• California Department of Social Services
• Oregon Department of Human Services
• District of Columbia Department of Human Services
• Illinois Department of Human Services

Each state will use 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.

Past grantees have used their funds in a variety of ways. For example, states have educated recipients about program rules and the penalties of violating those rules, developed training materials for fraud prevention and detection, and offered professional development opportunities for staff to learn about new and emerging trends in fraud.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) leverages its 15 nutrition assistance programs to ensure that children, low-income individuals, and families have opportunities for a better future through equitable access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food, while building a more resilient food system. Under the leadership of Secretary Tom Vilsack, FNS is fighting to end food and nutrition insecurity for all through programs such as SNAP, school meals, and WIC. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. To learn more, visit www.fns.usda.gov and follow @USDANutrition.

###

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