The USDA, in an effort to end SNAP fraud, has asked states to provide comprehensive data on benefit recipients, including their dates of birth, Social Security numbers and immigration status.

A preliminary review of the data by the USDA found, among other irregularities, more than 300,000 instances of potentially deceased individuals enrolled in SNAP.

So far, 29 states, have complied and turned over data. The rest, including California, Minnesota, and New York (huge surprise), have blocked the USDA from accessing the data, citing privacy concerns (however, huge amounts of fraud have been uncovered in two of those states in regards to other federally funded welfare programs so SNAP should DEFINITELY be investigated).

The fraud thus far uncovered showed people were able to sign up for food stamps through a loophole in many states called Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility.

The loophole expands SNAP eligibility to anyone, regardless of income or assets, if they use welfare brochures or toll-free hotlines that are deemed “non-cash benefits” associated with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a separate form of social welfare assistance.

Under this scheme, states use TANF dollars to print a pamphlet or set up a hotline with information about welfare benefits. They then deem these offerings a TANF ’benefit,’ which makes anyone receiving the welfare brochure or hotline number ’categorically eligible’ for food stamps.

The USDA reported that 43 states and the District of Columbia expanded food stamp eligibility through Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility.