NMHR News:

RUIDOSO — A new Legislative Finance Committee evaluation found New Mexico’s SNAP program is operating with weak oversight, limited verification, and one of the highest payment error rates in the nation.

The state’s SNAP payment error rate has climbed to 16.6 percent, the fifth highest in the country. As a result, New Mexico could face up to $173 million annually in federal cost-sharing penalties.

The audit found that some of the largest sources of payment errors stem from information that is largely self-reported and often not independently verified. Despite having access to state databases and verification tools, New Mexico conducts minimal case reviews and investigates only a small fraction of reported fraud complaints.

“The message from this audit is simple: New Mexico has created a SNAP program that is easier to game than it is to verify,” House Republicans said. “Taxpayers are footing the bill while state officials look the other way. A system that rarely verifies, seldom audits, and barely investigates fraud is a system designed to fail.”

New Mexico administers benefits to more than 250,000 SNAP cases but reviewed just 1,016 cases last year. The audit also found fraud investigations have declined even as fraud complaints have increased.

The findings raise serious concerns about whether taxpayer dollars are being protected and whether benefits are reaching those who truly qualify. New Mexico has the tools to strengthen oversight and improve accountability. What has been missing is the willingness to use them.