CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — Rep. Nancy Mace wants additional measures in place to reduce the amount of fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
She’s introducing the Food Assistance Integrity and Responsibility (FAIR) Act to bring accountability to the program.
“We want to reduce the amount of SNAP fraud that there is across the country,” Mace said. “South Carolina is actually one of the top states – I think we were ranked number 12 – in being one of the top states for SNAP debit card fraud.”
Mace says there were more than $100 million in stolen benefits during the first quarter of 2025.
The legislation calls for anyone seeking SNAP benefits to show a photo ID to make sure only those who qualify can accept the benefits. The ID will be needed to use and a SNAP EBT card as well. Mace says there will be protection for the most vulnerable individuals, like those with disabilities or minors, but argues that an ID is not hard to get.
“You need an ID to buy a pack of cigarettes. If you need an ID to buy cigarettes, you should need an ID to get SNAP. You need an ID to get a tattoo. You need an ID to drink alcohol. You need an ID to vote,” Mace said. “This isn’t anything that is going to hurt people that might be getting SNAP debit card benefits. They should already have an ID.”
If passed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture would have 18 months to fully implement the new regulation.
“There are real people that have real needs, and I do believe with the amount of snap debt card fraud that we see in this country, state by state, we could actually give more benefits to the most vulnerable by cleaning up the fraud and preventing it,” Mace said.
Mace to introduce bill to require ID for SNAP benefits
