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Abstract:
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The federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), formally known as the Food Stamp Program, provides resources to aid millions of low income individuals meet their basic nutritional needs. In earlier times, these benefits were disbursed in paper coupon books on a monthly basis. However, now most benefits are in the form of monthly benefits disbursed to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards which are used to purchase select food items at SNAP approved vendors. Results are presented that identify an anomalous EBT transaction pattern, and quantify the amounts involved. Long held suspicions of the SNAP program being overrun with waste are dispelled, and it is shown that statistical analysis can help preserve the public trust in this vital program.
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