Whitmer says SNAP abuse rare; CapCon investigation says otherwise

Abuse in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is rare, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said on Caleb Hammer’s Financial Audit show.

Hammer, who attended Central Michigan University before dropping out and starting a popular podcast, is the Dave Ramsey of younger generations. He’s known for bashing the poor financial decisions of young people, such as spending more than one makes and not investing for retirement.

He audited Michigan’s spending and taxing, noting that 44% of Michigan’s budget funds Health and Human Services.

Hammer has interviewed multiple people on his show who admit to committing SNAP fraud. He asked if the SNAP program discouraged people from working.

“I want people to have assistance who need assistance, especially those who fall back. It’s a safety net. … But I’ve had so many people on this show, where they are specifically choosing not to go work more hours because then they’ll be taken off benefits,” Hammer said. “And I’m wondering, even though I want to support people who fall on hard times, obviously, because they are human beings. Have we set up our systems in a way, let’s say the state of Michigan, where we’re also discouraging people from going out there and being contributors?”

Whitmer responded: “That is an obscene, and I think, rare, example where the system is not perfect. We want to incentivize work. We want people to be gainfully employed and not reliant on state funding. But we recognize that there are a lot of people who are, right now, struggling to just take care of their daily needs.”

“I understand that you’ve had people suggest that you could move to Michigan and get benefits that you can’t get elsewhere; that’s just not true.”

An investigation by Michigan Capitol Confidential found a different kind of fraud, one which drains funds from the accounts of program participants. That investigation pushed the state health department to upgrade its security system after Michigan paid an extra $14 million due to fraud in 2024. A new estimate for 2025 should be released in February 2026.

Michigan’s food stamp program will have a higher level of security starting Jan. 1. The program, which benefits 1.4 million people, will be reformed with newer and more secure Bridge Cards, a move that follows a months-long Michigan Capitol Confidential investigation that the Michigan House Oversight Committee noticed.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and federal partners say they’ve fought back by seizing 44 skimmers at gas stations, grocery stores and liquor stores, protecting $16 million in benefits and 76,000 accounts, according to documents obtained through a records request. In 2024 alone, Michigan replaced more than 269,000 lost, stolen or compromised Bridge Cards, allowing up to four replacements per household before it requires an explanation.