👻 The Ghost in the Machine: Why Deceased Individuals Can Still Receive EBT Benefits
👻 The Ghost in the Machine: Why Deceased Individuals Can Still Receive EBT Benefits
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, and delivered via Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, is a crucial safety net for millions of Americans. It provides essential food assistance to low-income households.
However, a persistent and troubling issue has plagued the program for years: benefits sometimes continue to be issued to individuals who are deceased. This isn't an urban legend—it's a real problem involving improper payments and fraud that compromises the integrity of a vital public service.
💰 The Problem: Benefits After Death
Reports and audits, some dating back decades, have repeatedly highlighted instances where benefits are still being issued after a recipient has passed away. While the scale of the improper payments varies by state and over time, even small amounts add up to millions of taxpayer dollars misused.
How does this happen?
Delayed Reporting: SNAP households are required to report changes in circumstances, including the death of a household member. However, there can be a time lag between the death and when the state agency is notified and updates the case. In multi-person households, benefits may continue until the next required report date.
Systemic Gaps: Historically, state agencies have relied on self-reported information. A major factor contributing to this issue is the lag in matching recipient rolls against death records, such as the Social Security Administration's Death Master File or state vital statistics data. If the matching process isn't frequent, comprehensive, or effectively implemented, deceased individuals can remain on the active rolls.
Intentional Misuse (Fraud): In some cases, the continued use of an EBT card after the recipient's death is intentional fraud. A family member, friend, or authorized representative who has the card and the Personal Identification Number (PIN) may continue to use the benefits, essentially stealing public funds.
🛡️ What's Being Done to Combat It?
The good news is that federal and state agencies recognize this issue and have implemented measures to close these loopholes:
Data Matching: States are now strongly encouraged or required to enter into cooperative agreements with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and use state vital records to cross-check benefit rolls against deceased individuals more frequently. This helps identify and stop payments to deceased individuals faster.
Updated Policies: State agencies are implementing tighter procedures for reviewing death notifications and immediately terminating benefits when the last person in a household is verified as deceased.
Fraud Prevention and Penalties: Federal and state law enforcement agencies work to investigate and prosecute cases of EBT fraud. Individuals caught knowingly misusing a deceased person's benefits face serious criminal penalties, including fines and jail time.
💡 The Importance of Program Integrity
The continued flow of benefits to deceased individuals is more than just a matter of wasted money. It erodes public trust in social safety net programs. Every dollar lost to improper payment or fraud is a dollar that cannot go to a deserving family struggling to put food on the table.
For SNAP to maintain its critical role, its integrity must be upheld. While the vast majority of recipients are honest and truly in need, identifying and eliminating fraud—whether through intentional misuse or systemic oversight—is essential.
If you suspect EBT fraud, you can report it anonymously to your state's social services agency or the USDA Office of Inspector General.