Benefit Integrity and Recovery Unit

The Benefit Integrity and Recovery Unit (BIRU) is charged with investigating recipient fraud in the agency’s public assistance programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

Reports of suspected fraud are received from both internal and external sources. 

SNAP fraud is the intentional illegal use, misuse or theft of benefits by recipients, retailers or scammers. Common types of fraud include the intentional withholding or misrepresentation of information to obtain benefits unlawfully, as well as the trafficking of SNAP benefits or Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.

In state fiscal years 2025 and 2026, the BIRU discovered over $15.8 million in TANF and SNAP overpayments due to fraud. All of these fraudulent disbursements must be repaid.

According to data reported in the USDA FNS’ FFY 2023 State Activity Report, the BIRU was ranked “number three” in the USDA Southeast region for the number of Intentional Program Violation (IPV) claims established in SNAP and “number two” in total SNAP disqualification determinations.

BIRU has five operating units: Fraud Investigations, Non-Fraud Claims, Benefit Trafficking,  Special Investigations and Investigative Analytics. 

Office of Inspector General Hotline: 1-877-423-4746, option #6

Report Fraud, Waste, and Abuse