State Audit Shows That Cooper Administration Slow Walked $83 Million In SNAP Benefits

A state audit shows that roughly $83 million in SNAP benefits were slow-walked to North Carolinians under then-Governor Roy Cooper. More than 290,000 SNAP benefits missed federal timeliness requirements.   

Additionally, under Cooper the situation deteriorated. On-time delivery fell from 98% in 2021 to 91% for 2022 through 2024, below the federal standard of 95%, and counties including Wake and Mecklenburg issued 20 to 25% of payments late. 

But according to the audit, Roy Cooper’s department was not overwhelmed; rather, leadership chose not to act. “Department leadership made the decision not to issue formal corrective actions” even while seeing counties miss deadlines on a quarter of their payments, the audit states. State Audit Boliek said, "Despite repeatedly seeing there were delays in the distribution of SNAP benefits, DHHS chose not to enforce corrective actions."  

The department was run by Cooper’s appointees, Mandy Cohen and then Kody Kinsley.  
 

Additionally, the audit cites a March 2024 news report documenting an 80-year-old woman who had not eaten in two days while waiting for her benefits.  

 
Amid the Democrats’ government shutdown, Roy Cooper himself said, “Losing SNAP benefits will hurt North Carolina families, small businesses, non-profits, and put a strain on food banks.”