Issues
This page provides a summary of the legislative issues that are currently top of mind for our organization. Here you will find a brief overview of the key topics we are focused on and why they are important to us.
For more detailed explanations and information on additional issues and legislative developments that UCOWF is involved with, please visit our fact sheet page.
State Retention Money
State retention money for welfare fraud detection and prevention is a crucial issue for the United Council for Welfare Fraud. Our organization aims to increase the funds collected and ensure that they are earmarked exclusively for program integrity efforts, as states can currently keep money without any usage designation, resulting in small amounts being allocated for fraud detection efforts. This is important as the organization believes that rerouting more money towards these efforts, especially through the upcoming farm bill, will have a significant impact on the welfare system and ensure that funds are being used appropriately.
National Accuracy Clearing House
National Accuracy Clearinghouse (NAC) and Federal Nutrition Service (FNS) are continuously seeking to delay the implementation of protections against duplicate SNAP participation. The implementation of NAC is crucial for preventing duplicate participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and UCOWF leaders have presented evidence dispelling FNS's concerns about data privacy and misidentification, urging lawmakers to require the immediate implementation of NAC to prevent billions of dollars in duplicate payments by doing so.
Card Trafficking
The topic discussed with lawmakers by UCOWF leaders is the issue of EBT card skimming and cloning, which has become a widespread problem across the United States. It is an important issue because it creates a significant challenge for states to detect, investigate, and prevent fraud, which ultimately leads to the loss of taxpayer dollars and undermines the effectiveness of safety net programs designed to assist vulnerable populations.
For more information, contact our Intergovernmental Affairs Committee chairs:
- Andy McClenahan
- Dawn Royal