The state auditor has taken a look at the food stamp program in Ohio and thinks there might be some abuse.
Auditor Dave Yost looked at several factors in the federal food stamp program: things like even-dollar transactions, multiple purchases within an hour and other unusual activities. He found signs of potential abuse but says it wasn’t widespread.
“It is a relatively small percentage. The trouble is the program is so big that even a small percentage of problem has a big price tag,” he said.
Yost says he doesn’t have information needed to do a more thorough investigation of the federal program. Lisa Hamler Fugitt with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks says the food stamp system is not immune to fraud and says she applauds efforts to crack down on it.
But she says the vast majority of food stamp recipients really need them and should not have to suffer because of the wrongdoing of others.
