The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a nationwide effort requiring millions of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries to submit new applications for continued aid. The decision comes after a recent federal audit uncovered that more than 186,000 individuals who had passed away were still listed as active recipients.
According to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the agency’s review compared SNAP enrollment files with the Social Security Administration’s death records, revealing widespread inaccuracies in the system. While the USDA emphasized that benefits were not necessarily being used by deceased individuals, officials said the findings highlighted the need for a thorough update of program records.
The department has not yet confirmed when the reapplication process will begin or how many of the roughly 42 million current SNAP participants will be required to complete it. Officials noted that the initiative is part of a broader push to modernize program oversight, reduce administrative errors, and ensure that aid reaches eligible households without disruption.
USDA representatives said more details on the new procedures will be released soon, and states will receive guidance to help manage what could become one of the largest administrative updates in the program’s recent history.
