The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed closing a loophole that allows states to make participants receiving minimal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits automatically eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The proposed rule would limit SNAP/TANF automatic eligibility to households that receive substantial, ongoing TANF-funded benefits aimed at helping families move toward self-sufficiency.

 

USDA says the proposal would fix a loophole that has expanded SNAP recipients in some states to include people who clearly don’t need the benefits.

The agency points out that the eligibility requirements have become so flexible that a millionaire in Minnesota successfully enrolled in the program to highlight the waste of taxpayer money.

USDA says the proposal will save billions of dollars and ensure that nutrition assistance programs are delivered with consistency and integrity to those who need it most.

 

“For too long, the loophole has been used to effectively bypass important eligibility guidelines,” Perdue says.

“Too often, states have misused this flexibility without restraint. We’re changing the rules to prevent abuse of a critical safety net system.”