A recent audit by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor found that about $83 million in SNAP benefits were delayed between 2021 and 2024, with the counties of Davidson, Edgecombe, Wake, Mecklenburg, Pitt, Cumberland, and Stanly having the highest delays. During this period, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child and Family Well–Being processed about 3.7 million applications and distributed nearly $15.7 billion in benefits, according to the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor.
State Auditor Dave Boliek said, "The State Auditor's Office is committed to holding government accountable for being efficient. In this case, despite repeatedly seeing there were delays in the distribution of SNAP benefits, DHHS chose not to enforce corrective actions." The audit shows that some counties did not make timely Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit payments, as reported by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor.
The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor recommends that the Division of Child and Family Well-Being monitor counties more closely and take corrective actions to prevent delays in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The division is also asked to provide access to data to manage and track benefits accurately. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides financial assistance for buying food, and the audit shows the need for better oversight to ensure people receive benefits on time.
