Massachusetts Audit Reveals Millions in SNAP Fraud

Nearly two dozen states, including Massachusetts, refuse to cooperate with the Trump Administration in its attempt to ferret out waste, fraud, and abuse in public benefits programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Massachusetts Pushes Back on Federal Oversight

The Trump Administration is seeking personal data – including names, addresses, and immigration status of SNAP recipients – to combat fraud, but has faced significant legal and political hurdles. That includes opposition from judges and Democratic governors, including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, prompting Trump to threaten to withhold federal funds from those states.

Each quarter, and at the end of each fiscal year, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) reports on public benefits fraud cases. It amounts to millions of dollars.

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What the State Auditor’s Report Reveals

The report for Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025) will cause your socks to melt.

"For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, BSI identified $11,952,288 in public assistance fraud, with a total of 4,179 fraud investigations completed," according to a press release from State Auditor Diana DiZoglio.

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SNAP and MassHealth Account for Most Fraud

The statement continues, "BSI's Fraud Investigations Unit (FIU) identified the largest amount of fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) totaling over $4.1 million for FY25, and more than $1.3 million in fraud in MassHealth."

The report does not include the $7 million SNAP fraud scheme recently uncovered at two Boston-area stores.

"For countless residents across the Commonwealth, these programs offer access to everyday items they need, including food and medical services," DiZoglio said.