Reps. Marvin Lim, Karen Lupton and David Wilkerson Request Comprehensive Audit of Georgia’s Federal Benefits Eligibility Systems in Response to H.R. 1

ATLANTA - State Representatives Marvin Lim (D-Norcross), Karen Lupton (D-Chamblee) and David Wilkerson (D-Powder Springs) recently submitted a letter to the Georgia State Auditor to request that the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts (DOAA) audit the Federal Eligibility Benefit Services by the Department of Human Services (DHS). This request is pursuant to DOAA's duties under O.C.G.A. § 50-6-24 and comes in response to their concerns within DHS systems and new administrative requirements imposed by federal H.R. 1.

"Our constituents deserve systems that are clear, accessible and efficient," said Rep. Lim. "Too many Georgians continue to face challenges navigating Gateway and other DHS platforms just to access the benefits they are eligible for. With the added administrative pressures created by H.R. 1, this audit is an opportunity to identify improvements that both reduce red tape and ensure taxpayers get the most value from the dollars we appropriate."

"As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to ensure the state is prepared for the increased administrative burdens that H.R. 1 imposes - especially the reductions in federal SNAP funding and new redetermination requirements for Medicaid," said Rep. Lupton. "These changes will significantly impact Georgia's budget operations in the coming years. A thorough transparent audit will help us better understand where the system is strained and how we can strengthen it going forward."

"H.R. 1 places major new costs on states, and Georgia is already at risk because of its high SNAP eligibility error rate," said Rep. Wilkerson. "If we don't address these administrative challenges now, the financial consequences could be substantial. This audit will give us the data we need to improve accuracy, reduce unnecessary expenditures and ensure Georgia is in the best possible position when these federal changes take effect."

The representatives request that DOAA audit DHS's administration of Federal Eligibility Benefit Services, specifically examining SNAP-related administrative costs, potential measures to reduce Georgia's error rates and the determinations made through Georgia Pathways to Coverage, including H.R. 1.

Reps. Lim, Lupton and Wilkerson's request is driven by their commitment to reducing administrative hurdles and improving the user experience for constituents who may face challenges accessing DHS's Gateway and other systems related to federal benefits eligibility. Their request is also motivated by the goal of achieving cost savings and greater efficiency, which could allow funds to be directed toward specific program needs. The representatives report that for Fiscal Year 2026, Georgia lawmakers allocated $447 million for these services, including $162 million in state funds.

The full text of their letter may be found here.

Representative Marvin Lim represents the citizens of District 98, which includes a portion of Gwinnett County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2020 and currently serves on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Appropriations, Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety, Health and Retirement committees.

Representative Karen Lupton represents the citizens of District 83, which includes a portion of DeKalb County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves on the Education, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications and Human Relations & Aging committees.

Representative David Wilkerson represents the citizens of District 38, which includes a portion of Cobb County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 and currently serves on the Budget & Fiscal Affairs Oversight, Education, Judiciary Juvenile and Retirement committees.

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