The Office of the Utah State Auditor released a Performance Audit of Data Analytics Techniques to Detect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Abuse. SNAP is often referred to as “food stamps.” The audit report identifies four areas in which the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) could further improve oversight of SNAP by using data analytics to proactively identify and investigate potential food stamp fraud in Utah.
Over the past few years, the Office of the Utah State Auditor shared opportunities for improvement within DWS that DWS management has been quick to implement. In this current analysis, the Office of the Utah State Auditor has identified opportunities to help prevent food stamp fraud in Utah or abuse of SNAP by focusing on analyzing available data.
Specifically, DWS could use data analytics to identify SNAP recipients who:
-make the majority of their purchases outside of the state,
-request excessive electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards,
-attempt frequent rapid successive transactions, or
-make large or frequent even dollar transactions.
The audit report cites several cases in which a lack of proactive controls allowed potential program misuse to perpetuate. For example, 636 SNAP recipients made transactions exclusively outside of Utah for at least six months, calling into question their Utah SNAP eligibility. Some of these SNAP recipients claimed SNAP benefits from another state at the same time as receiving SNAP benefits in Utah.
Another area where data analytics could help prevent SNAP abuse is proactively identifying cases in which recipients request excessive replacement cards. The Office of the Utah State Auditor identified multiple recipients who received an excessive number of replacement cards. A high number of replacement cards may indicate fraudulent use, such as selling or trading cards. As examples of food stamp fraud in Utah, one recipient received 22 replacement EBT cards, and another received 24 replacements, both over an 18-month period.
In addition, analyzing the frequency of successive transactions, as is done in the commercial financial industry, can help flag SNAP recipients who may be selling or trading SNAP benefits in violation of the program guidelines. The audit report discusses additional ways to use data analytics to proactively prevent SNAP misuse. The implementation of the recommendations found in this audit report will strengthen the administration of SNAP in the state while increasing recipient accountability. Proactively identifying program misuse will help ensure that SNAP benefits are used only for the intended purpose and by eligible individuals.
The full audit report and audit brief may be found on the Office of the Utah State Auditor’s website, auditor.utah.gov. The full audit report is specifically located here.
Food stamp fraud in Utah subject of Utah State Auditor report. Great news this states’ departments of snap have MADE it easy to steal from our state. Online applications are copied and Career Criminals from Birth of generations. I read Utah, worst state globally is the highest FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE. *Attorney Katrina Lynne Whitmer, DOB: 09/27/1962, bar# in 2018. Her mommy-dearest aka The Golden Child, malignant narcissistic Patty Jo (born, Mortensen) divorced name Whitmer. Deliberately hurt herself on-the-job to receive a settlement of $10K. Utah’s’ welfare demands Patty to clarify her new income. Patty refused and put her funds in money orders to avoid HER losing HER SNAP and benefits. AND ongoing criminal activities Patty Whitmer was selling her SNAP for street drugs to self medicate. HOW she learned this? HER PARENTS worked FT jobs while filing for SNAP online and fake stories told for TANF. How’s this you say? Federal, States websites for criminals educate them about professional crimes their lifetime. I report outlaws=in-laws yearly. In-laws stealing my name, age, employer, birth and more. Use Dead family’s social security numbers to put MY info to apply $5K signature cash loans. Buy street drugs to self medicate. FACTS: Yearly mandatory applications for LONGTERM and disability welfare, Medicare and Medicare. Federal and State applications by moving old data. Require more information like: grandparent(s) DOB, places lived, employer(s). How many live-in-partner(s) each applicant has and ongoing lifestyles. Mandatory background checks to confirm criminal activities and links to social media sites show these criminals bragging of their crimes against. This will reduce fraud, waste and abuse. Stiff fines, deposits and pentolites for these applicants. Tracking chips in lanyards worn by applications. HOW do I know this? The in-laws have posted their crimes as the parents did when living. This in-law (do not use ‘my’ in-laws, no emotional link) called his children and on the weekends the dad would bring out his stolen items and educate his grown children. Spouse and I have moved out of Utah and are living as snowbirds.