
Topline: Maryland gave at least $319,000 in food stamps and other federally-funded benefits to prisoners, dead people, and a $2 million lottery winner.
A July report from the state's Office of Legislative Audits found Maryland has "no comprehensive process" to ensure only eligible recipients are approved for federal assistance. Even when computers flag questionable payments, the state takes months to investigate them.
Key facts: The audit found a person who won a $2 million lottery prize in July 2023 but was still receiving benefits as recently as this February.
Six others who had either won the lottery or died (the audit lumps them together) were still receiving benefits in February. Another seven people had their benefits cut off, but only three to six months after the state's automated computer system flagged an irregularity.
The state also gave benefits to 1,858



