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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 24, 2023 03:05 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Ann Flood |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Addressing High Balances in the SNAP program |
| The accumulation of high account balances on the federally administered Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is an issue that has received attention for some time. In 2013, the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General (OIG) started an investigation concerning allegations of high balances of 20 Pennsylvania SNAP accounts with an excess of $5,000. The investigation uncovered evidence of potential fraud in six of those accounts. Most recently, a May 24, 2023 article in PennLive states that “More than $400 million in federal aid intended to help feed low-income Pennsylvania families went unspent last month.” SNAP is a federal program that is administered by the state Department of Human Services (DHS). Unfortunately, federal regulation or policy do not require an eligible individual to spend SNAP benefits in order to maintain eligibility. Therefore, there is the potential for high balances to accumulate in accounts. Although the state’s role is to administer these federal benefits on behalf of the federal government, states have a responsibility to ensure that taxpayer dollars; regardless of source, are being spent appropriately. If dollars are going unspent, then those funds should be reallocated to other areas of need. I intend to introduce legislation that is an amendment to the Pennsylvania Human Services Code that would require DHS to request a waiver from the federal government that would permit DHS to put limits on the excess amount of SNAP benefits accumulated in an account. Please join me as a co-sponsor of this legislation that will address a systematic issue. |
Introduced as HB1393