| Date: | March 19, 2025 |
| To: | All SNAP Retailers |
| From: | Angela Kline Deputy Administrator The Office of Retailer Operations and Compliance |
Dear Retailer:
Your participation as an authorized retailer in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) serves an important purpose. More than 40 million low-income people each month redeem their SNAP benefits at stores nationwide. SNAP is funded by the American taxpayer and must be executed with integrity and accountability, therefore rules to protect taxpayer dollars must be followed by all participating retailers.
Secretary Rollins and the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are committed to fighting fraud, waste, and abuse in all USDA programs. We are equally committed to taking swift action aimed at eliminating fraud occurring in the SNAP retailer community and rooting out bad actors who take advantage of the taxpayer’s generosity.
As indicated in the SNAP Retailer Training Guide that was provided to you when you were authorized to accept SNAP benefits at your store, you must place the “Report Abuse of SNAP” poster in a prominent place where people can easily see it. As a participating SNAP retailer, you should regularly review SNAP program rules and take steps to train and retrain your employees. SNAP training information and posters are available on the FNS website at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer/training.
FNS monitors SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) purchases at all SNAP-participating retail food stores to find those who are violating program rules, including rules prohibiting trafficking and the sale of ineligible items. FNS takes immediate administrative action to ensure stores that violate SNAP rules no longer participate in the program. Retailers that commit program violations will face consequences, including losing the ability to accept SNAP benefits. Retailers who commit program violations may also be subject to monetary penalties, fines, and/or criminal prosecution. FNS will also resume issuing notices to nearby retailers when a local retailer is disqualified from SNAP.
USDA FNS stands ready to fight fraud and preserve taxpayer dollars. If you know or suspect that someone is violating SNAP rules, you should contact the USDA Office of Inspector General tollfree at (800) 424-9121. Your identity will be protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 and the Inspector General Act of 1978.
Thank you for your attention to these important reminders.