Food-Stamp Fraud, Errors Cost U.S. $1.8 Billion
WASHINGTON — Thousands of Americans pocketed more than $1.8 billion in food-stamp benefits they were not entitled to receive last year--a record loss that the Agriculture Department blames on mistakes and fraud.
In a recent letter to key members of Congress, the Agriculture Department said that 8.29% of food-stamp benefits went to people who were ineligible or collected more than they were entitled.
At the same time, thousands of low-income people were denied benefits totaling $559 million because of mistakes made in running one of the welfare programs.
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