Welfare reform on the table to prevent SNAP benefits from going to dead recipients
(The Center Square) – Proposed Pennsylvania legislation would require more state agency cooperation to ensure that welfare payments aren't sent out after a recipient dies.
Awaiting approval in the House before it can go to Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf for a signature, Senate Bill 1124 would require the Department of Human Services to run a monthly check of death certificates with the Bureau of Vital Statistics to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are not spent on deceased individuals.
“It's our hope that this legislation will help ensure that important public funds dedicated to helping those who need it the most reach as many Pennsylvanians as possible,” Sen. David Argall, R-Berks/ Schuylkill, wrote in a legislative memo.
The impetus for the bill came from a 2016 state audit on DHS's electronic benefits transfer (which the state uses to distribute SNAP funds) to detect fraud and monitoring weaknesses that needed to be addressed.
“We found that DHS policy allowed public assistance benefits to be paid to recipients up to 12 months after death,” the auditor's report noted. “In fact, we determined that DHS paid 2,324 deceased recipient cardholders' accounts during the period July 2013 through June 2014.”
DHS paid out nearly $700,000 in benefits to those deceased beneficiaries. A majority, 54%, received less than $200, 42% received $200-$999, and 4% received more than $1,000.
The department also struggled to detect improper uses of those funds or refer cases to an investigator.
“We determined that DHS fails to detect instances of inappropriate EBT card usage, especially after a recipient is deceased, and is not referring such cases to the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General for investigation and/or overpayment recovery,” the report noted. “Investigation referrals submitted to the OIG are also not tracked and monitored by DHS.”
The report also noted that DHS struggled to monitor the out-of-state activity of EBT cards, which exceeded $70 million annually.
No state audit of the EBT program has been conducted since 2016.
Previous welfare reforms, such as Act 125 of 2018 signed by Wolf, limited the eligibility for public funds of high-level felony drug dealers and non-compliant sex offenders, and restricted where EBT cards could be used.
• Saturday July 9th, 2 p.m. Pa Reptiles - Did you ever wonder what kinds of reptiles lurk in the Pennsylvania wilds? Well, now is your chance to learn a few! Join us at the Elk Country Visitor Center as we learn about a couple important reptiles found in the Keystone State of PA. You can even get acquainted with our rescued Eastern Box Turtles (Bob and Rosie) as well as Java, our Eastern Black Rat Snake.
• Sunday July 10th, 12 p.m. Elk Country Rocks - It's time for arts and crafts at the Elk Country Visitor Center! Join our staff in painting a rock of your choosing to create, a one-of-a-kind, souvenir of your very own!!
• Saturday July 16th, 2 p.m. Fireflies - Summertime in Benezette is a little extra bright at night thanks to these friendly insects lumineers. Come and enjoy a presentation on Pennsylvania's state insect and learn what makes them so unique. Maybe you'll even catch a few whiles camping in elk country!
• Saturday July 23rd, 2 p.m. Moose, Elk, Caribou, Whitetail - “Moose, Elk, Caribou, and
Whitetail oh my!” The Deer family has quite a few members! Join our staff as we learn about the elk and their many cousins that live in North America. You are sure to learn something new along the way!
• Sunday July 24th, 2 p.m. Pa Invasives - If you look at the trees in the Pennsylvania Wilds, you will notice they aren't as full. This is because of the Spongy Moth, previously called the Gypsy Moth, which is an invasive species to Pennsylvania. Join our staff at the Elk Country Visitor Center to learn about the Spongy Moth as well as the many other invasive species that wreak havoc on Pennsylvania ecosystems and how to prevent the spread.
• Saturday July 30th, 2 p.m. Elk Walk and Talk - Join a staff member as we walk the trails around the Elk Country Visitor Center. Learn many interesting facts about the property and wildlife that often inhabit these fields. We will be covering topics such as what elk eat, where they spend their time, and how each season brings something different.
• Sunday July 31st, 2