Podcast Guest or Co-host (1:54)

Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees, extra fee, full terms.

Government Accountability Representative (2:06)

@mintmobile.com we found SNAP recipients had more than 2,000 Tesla owners, 200 Alpha Romeo owners, more than 144 that were receiving food stamps were driving Porsches. Before, we had no accountability on any of these programs. We now are requ Accountability. The blue states are suing us. They don't want to share the data.

Ben Ferguson (2:28)

You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson.

Ben Ferguson (2:31)

Good Friday morning. Nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update and we've got a massive story for you. You will not believe just how much fraud and abuse there is with food stamps. In this country or known as snap benefits. And it's all been set up for there to be waste, fraud and abuse by the Democratic Party.

Ryan Reynolds (Mint Mobile Advertiser) (2:53)

Why?

Ben Ferguson (2:54)

Simply to buy votes. So how easy is it to get food stamps? Well, you can be a multi millionaire. Yeah. You can drive a Lamborghini or a Ferrari. And we've got the receipts. It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now.

Ben Ferguson (3:09)

Story number one, when Donald Trump was

Ben Ferguson (3:11)

elected, he promised he was going to root out waste, fraud and abuse. We have learned just how corrupt our government actually is. We've learned that Medicare and Medicaid, there's massive fraud. Hospice care, massive fraud. We have learned that it's in food stamps. And now the foundation for Government Accountability has exposed even more explaining now that millionaires and lottery winners are collecting food stamps. You heard that right. Under a massive, purposely created federal loophole, it is now possible for millionaires and lottery winners to get food stamps.

Ben Ferguson (3:53)

The best way you can describe this is it is fraud by design. And this is not protecting the needy. It is costing taxpayers hundreds of millions, which then turns into billions of dollars. And it's all called broad based categorical eligibility. That is how they have now turned this entire system into a fraudulent system on purpose. And when I say they, I'm talking exactly about the Democratic Party. I want you to listen carefully to how broad based categorical eligibility works because it may sound boring, but it's costing you countless tax dollars every single year.

Podcast Guest or Co-host (4:37)

Today, one in eight people are enrolled in taxpayer funded food stamps. This program was designed to help the truly needy. But thanks to a federal loophole known as broad based categorical eligibility, or BBCE, more than 40 states are exploiting the program, giving food stamps to millionaires, lottery winners, and millions of recipients with more than enough resources to buy their own groceries. In fact, millions of food stamp recipients exceed the federal asset or income limits. Roughly one in five of those enrollees have $100,000 or more in assets. This loophole is no accident. It's fraud by design. Federal law requires states to check asset limits for anyone, applaud for food stamps. If your assets are too high, you don't qualify. But here's where the BBCE workaround comes in. If someone is deemed eligible to receive other welfare benefits, they automatically qualify for food stamps. And states have fully weaponized this loophole. They created new types of welfare benefits like pamphlets, flyers and hotlines, not to provide aid, but to legally bypass income and asset limits.

Ben Ferguson (5:51)

Let me, let me just be clear about what you just heard. States decided that There can be simple things that you can be given that then categorize and qualify you as receiving government aid. So if you received a pamphlet on good parenting, single parenting, how to have a baby, or to not have a baby, any government pamphlet that they have deemed to be government aid, then you, at that exact moment are automatically eligible for food stamps. That's why there's so many recipients through the BBC requirements that actually have no business receiving these SNAP benefits because it's all about exposing and going around the traditional rules. They have wide discretion at a state level on how to apply it and then they want to make sure that as many people in their state can get into these programs. Most recipients by the way of food stamps are not wealthy. But what we're witnessing is most are also not poor. And many of these families can afford their own groceries. But because they were given a pamphlet from the government that the state deems,

Ben Ferguson (7:12)

as you guessed it, a state benefit or government benefit, then automatically you are

Ben Ferguson (7:18)

then eligible for food stamps.

Ben Ferguson (7:21)

Now this is why there needs to be massive reform. Because if you win the lottery or you're a multimillionaire, my tax dollars should not be paying for your groceries.

Ben Ferguson (7:31)

Keep listening.

Podcast Guest or Co-host (7:33)

As long as someone qualifies to receive a pamphlet, they are categorically eligible for food stamps. It's really that easy. This is fraud and mismanagement at the highest level. And the consequence is that it drives up the cost for taxpayers and threatens benefits for the truly needy. It's for states to close the BBC loophole. Learn more at the FGA.org now this

Ben Ferguson (7:58)

was one of the most powerful 1 minute and 40 second videos I've ever seen. Because not only does it explain exactly what's happening here, but now you understand why you and I should be paying attention to this. So let's move to what we now know. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that's known

Ben Ferguson (8:16)

as SNAP is now being reported that it is experiencing the highest levels of fraud and theft the system has ever seen. Estimates are now suggesting that there are losses up to. Okay, this is the, this is the guesstimates, the estimates that there are now losses of your tax dollars that are being gone through fraud and abuse and theft of more than $20 billion annually that is prompting increased federal, state and law enforcement action by the Trump something that they promised. Now the key aspects of the current SNAP abuse they're saying is number one, massive EBT theft, skimming. What does that mean? Criminal organizations are heavily targeting beneficiaries by using illegal skimming devices to then clone EBT cards that results in hundreds of millions in stolen benefits each and every year. Then there is trafficking. What is trafficking? It's the illegal sale of your SNAP benefits for cash. It's become a significant issue. Many times you'll get a hundred dollars, for example of food stamps right on your SNAP card and somebody will buy those from you for 30, 40, $50,

Ben Ferguson (9:36)

whatever the market rate is that day

Ben Ferguson (9:38)

in the black market. There's also improper payments. The program has seen what they describe

Ben Ferguson (9:44)

as a massive increase in improper payments.

Ben Ferguson (9:47)

12% rate reported in the fiscal year 2024.

Ben Ferguson (9:51)

That is often, they say due to

Ben Ferguson (9:53)

administrative errors or failure to verify data.

Ben Ferguson (9:57)

Then you have the fraudulent activity types. Investigations are uncovering individuals collecting benefits in not one state but in multiple states

Ben Ferguson (10:06)

simultaneously, using the identities of deceased individuals

Ben Ferguson (10:11)

and misrepresenting their household income as well. There's also what we've now learned today, a new aspect of this and it's costing you also millions of dollars. There's international crime involvement. Investigations are now exposing that international criminal organizations are involved in stealing benefits to fund other illicit activities. And then there's another type of fraud that apparently is massive that no one has been policing and that is retail fraud. Some retailers have been implicated in now schemes where they exchange SNAP benefits for cash with some cases involving hundreds of thousands of dollars at a single location. Now the USDA's Food and Nutrition Services is now working, they say to replace stolen benefits and also improve EBT card security, including moving towards chip technology that we're currently not using. We also note the Office of Inspector General and the Secret Service are conducting

Ben Ferguson (11:17)

targeted operations they say to combat EBT fraud. But that is not enough. Which brings us back to the woman who's in charge of all of this. Secretary Brooke Rollins said in just one state there were 14,000 individuals and this was a Republican state that was receiving SNAP benefits. And the people that were receiving them were driving luxury vehicles. What types? Ferraris, Bentleys, Lamborghinis, maseratis. More than 140 Porsches, more than 244 Alfa Romeos, more than 306 Land Rovers. And where the fraudsters coming from the most? They're a bunch of woke liberals. They've drive more than 2090 Teslas. Here's part of what she had to say about the fraud and just how bad it's gotten.

Government Accountability Representative (12:11)

Sharing previously no data was shared. We had no idea where the taxpayer dollars were spent. Just one red state. The recent dump of data we found SNAP recipients had more than 2,000 Tesla owners, 200 Alpha Romeo, owners more than 144 that were receiving food stamps were driving Porsches. Again, this is the data dumps we're getting because that we before we had no accountability on any of these programs. We now are requiring account accountability. The blue states are suing us. They don't want to share the data. And can you imagine this was a red state where there is actually some taxpayer accountability. Imagine what's happening in the blue states if that's happening in the red state.

Ben Ferguson (12:52)

I go back over those numbers. In a conservative State, you had 14,000 individuals receiving SNAP benefits that were driving luxury vehicles. Three were driving Bentleys, four Ferraris, 11 Lamborghinis, 59 Maseratis, 141 Porsches, 400 or 240 Alpha Romeos, 306 Land Rovers and over 2,000 Teslas. These individuals, by the way, know what they're doing. They're taking advantage of you and I, the American taxpayer. And now what we're seeing is offense. Not only is Brooke Rawlings working together with the vp, the Vice president who's in charge of this task force to eliminate fraud, but they now say that 4.3 million Americans have been moved off of the SNAP benefits. But they say unfortunately there's more work

Ben Ferguson (13:39)

that needs to be done.

Ben Ferguson (13:40)

Now, let's just go back to that for a second. 4.3 million Americans have been moved off of food stamps. That's how much fraud they were able to find quickly and easily. Now we're moving, she put out in a statement, the new Food and Nutrition administration out of D.C. and into the heartland where it belongs. That also could change the leadership. Getting rid of the woke ideology in Washington D.C. they say they're shifting staff closer to those they support and making us more efficient and responsive to the millions of families that are touched by the USDA's nutrition programs. They say it's going to deliver faster and better service for families who need nutrition assistance and stronger support for American farmers who grow the food in their for their tables, saying, quote, we are laser focused on serving the American people with greater efficiency and this reorganization will do just that.

Ben Ferguson (14:33)

That is great news as there's another headline that says USDA announces the Food and Nutrition Administration. Formally the Food Nutrition Services and actions

Ben Ferguson (14:42)

will be moved to better serve the states.

Ben Ferguson (14:45)

That is what should be happening each and every day.

Ben Ferguson (14:48)

Now let's go back to the fraud for just a moment. The USDA's Food and Nutrition Services, they say this is costing you and this is what they're admitting to, billions of dollars. Why it's pretty simple because Democrats have decided that it's the best thing they can do is bribe voters to vote for them by allowing them to take these fraudulent benefits. So if we know that's what the left is doing and they're handing out these benefits to buy votes, then this issue is front and center right now going into the midterms. Congress, the good news is, is doing something about it. They're debating massive SNAP reforms, new laws that would tighten work requirements nationwide. Lawmakers also looking for cost savings and fraud reduction. And they're going after the BBC E. Because the single biggest lever to shrink SNAP enrollment would be getting rid of that massive loophole where you getting, quote, government aid. Yes. A pamphlet on anything from the state government automatically qualifies you for food stamps. Now, Republicans are saying it's time to reform. You gotta get rid of the loophole. It enables waste, it enables fraud, and it is enabling exactly what Donald Trump

Ben Ferguson (16:09)

said we must stop. They want to reinstate the asset tests.

Ben Ferguson (16:14)

Lower income thresholds are what matter. They want to tighten eligibility.

Ben Ferguson (16:19)

Democrats, of course, are saying no.

Ben Ferguson (16:22)

They believe that this is a lifeline to buying votes.

Ben Ferguson (16:25)

They say if you push millions off

Ben Ferguson (16:27)

of food stamps, that could be millions

Ben Ferguson (16:29)

of their voters that would disappear. Now, of course, they're going to play the emotional game. They're going to say that Republicans are

Ben Ferguson (16:35)

trying to starve people, especially children.

Ben Ferguson (16:38)

And any form of, like reform that means cuts, Democrats are going to use to their advantage, get ready for it. It's going to happen. So as we move forward, I wanted you to know about this program.

Ben Ferguson (16:53)

I wanted you to understand the loophole and I wanted you to understand why this is so important going into the midterms for the President of the United States of America to say, hey, you shouldn't get food stamps just because you got a government pamphlet or you even got a hotline number in some states, yes, even getting a phone number of a government agency is considered government assistance. That should not make you eligible for food stamps, period. And the reason why 46 states are doing this is because they're all trying to get their piece of the piece. They're trying to get some of their money as fast as they can from the federal government. And they don't even care if it's going out for waste, fraud and abuse. Now, luckily, the president has a chance to fix this and Republicans better do their job. And that's exactly why I hope you'll take everything I just gave you and share it wherever you can around the country.

Ben Ferguson (17:46)

Thank you for listening. To the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now. And for more in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast and we will see you back here tomorrow.

Podcast Guest or Co-host (18:03)

This is Sophia Donner from OK Storytime this Summer. Find your next obsession on Prime Video and listen. We're not saying you need another obsession, but there could be a lot worse ones. Steamy romance, addictive love stories, and the book to screen favorites you've already read twice, so why not watch them a third time off campus? L the Love Hypothesis and more. Slow Burn Second Chances Chemistry you can feel through the screen and it makes you wish you were actually in that movie. We've got binge worthy series can't miss movies. Perfect for when you're ignoring your own problems or procrastinating as one does. Your next obsession is waiting. Watch only on Prime.

Podcast Guest or Co-host (18:40)

Wasn't that delicious?

Podcast Host (18:42)

So good.

Wells Fargo Advertiser (18:42)

Your bill, ladies.

Ben Ferguson (18:43)

I got it.

Podcast Host (18:44)

No, I got it. Seriously, I insist.

Podcast Guest or Co-host (18:48)

I assisted first.

Podcast Host (18:49)

Don't be silly. You know me, silly.

Wells Fargo Advertiser (18:52)

People with The Wells Fargo ActiveCash credit card prefer to pay because they earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Podcast Host (18:58)

Okay, Rock, paper, scissors for it.

Ben Ferguson (19:00)

Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.

Wells Fargo Advertiser (19:02)

No, the Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card. Visit Wells Fargo.com ActiveCash Terms apply.

Taco Bell Advertiser (19:11)

From sauce to dust to nuggets It's Taco Bell's new Diablo Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets. Are they mild? If they were mild, they'd have to change the name to Little Rascal Nuggets or Minor Nuisance Nuggets. Definitely Diablo. New Diablo Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets. A brand new classic only a Taco bell at participating U.S. taco Bell locations for a limited time and while supplies last.

Martha Stewart (19:36)

This is Martha Stewart from the Martha Stewart Podcast. Ever wonder how to make hosting look effortless? Here's a secret. When prepping for cooking and baking, get ahead of the mess with new Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper. Just lightly wet the counter so the paper grips. Lay it down and drips and spills stay on the paper, not on your counter. Cleanup is as simple as lifting it away to reveal clean counters. Effortless it is, thanks to Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper. Wet it, set it, prep it. Done. Available in the Reynolds wrap aisle at Walmart, Target, Amazon and Costco.