USDA: $6.2 Billion Improperly Spent in 2013–$2 Billion on Food Stamp Overpayments

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) improperly spent $6.2 billion in taxpayer funds in 2013 including $2.6 billion erroneously spent on Food Stamp benefits, according to its latest agency financial report. USDA’s improper payments amount to the same amount that House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) cut from military pensions in Congress's recently-passed budget legislation. There were more improper payments made under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, than under any other USDA program, according to the USDA FY 2013 Agency Financial report released at the end of last month. The total $6.2 billion in USDA improper payments this year marked an estimated 10 percent increase from the $5.5 billion in 2012. However, the SNAP program payment error decreased from $2.7 billion in 2012 to $2.6 billion this year. The top-three USDA agencies with the highest amount of improper payments in 2013 were SNAP ($2.6 billion), the National School Lunch Program ($1.8 billion), School Breakfast Program ($831 million), Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Program Fund ($566 million), and Women, Infants, and Children food program ($198 million)...more