OCPA urges fraud review of state SNAP benefits

OCPA urges fraud review of state SNAP benefits

OKLAHOMA CITY (November 4, 2025)—Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small today called on state officials to conduct a thorough review of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Oklahoma, noting that public data suggests a significant amount of fraud may be present.

“The share of Oklahomans on food stamps is nearly 50 percent higher than the share of people in poverty in Oklahoma,” Small said. “In other states, food-stamp participation is generally in line with the poverty rate. That suggests there may be a significant number of people in Oklahoma receiving benefits who do not qualify. It is important that state policymakers not put any state funds into the SNAP program right now; rather, officials must review the program to determine why Oklahoma’s rates are so out of line with national norms. Then they must take steps to implement work requirements, minimize SNAP costs and errors, prohibit illegal aliens from receiving SNAP subsidies, and take whatever additional steps are necessary to protect taxpayers.”

Public data shows that 11.6 percent of Oklahomans live in poverty, but the share of Oklahomans on SNAP is around 17 percent. That’s a larger gap between the poverty rate and the rate of SNAP participation than what exists in all but two states.

In fact, in many states the share of the population on SNAP is less than the share in poverty, and in most states, the two figures are roughly aligned.

In the local region, most states have SNAP rates that generally align with poverty rates.

In Texas, 14.3 percent of people live in poverty but just 10 percent receive SNAP subsidies. In Arkansas, 13.6 percent live in poverty but only 8 percent are on SNAP. In Louisiana, 17.7 percent of the population has poverty-level income while 18 percent are on SNAP. In Missouri, 10 percent of people live in poverty while 11 percent are enrolled in SNAP. In Kansas, 9.1 percent live in poverty, but just 6 percent are in SNAP.

The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs promotes the flourishing of the people of Oklahoma by advancing principles and policies that support free enterprise, limited government, personal responsibility, individual initiative, and strong families.