Tennessee is prepared to provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture with a trove of sensitive personal data on low-income recipients of federal food stamp aid, a spokesperson for the state’s Department of Human Services said.
The Trump administration made the 50-state data request on May 6. It seeks the names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and total dollar value of benefits received for each individual enrolled in the Supplemental Nutritional Aid Program over the past five years.
The letter seeking the data of millions of food stamp recipients across the nation said the federal government intends to use the information to “ensure program integrity, including by verifying the eligibility of benefit recipients.”
Food assistance recipient data has historically been kept by state governments and private vendors contracted to process payments.
More than 687,000 Tennesseans — or about one in every 10 state residents — received the benefit as of April, according to data posted by the Department of Human Services. The program provides a monthly cash benefit loaded onto a debit card to be used for food purchases only.