Anonymous donor pays $8k debt for senior after 13 Investigates reported state's SNAP error
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Jerralee King said most nights she gets two or three hours of sleep before waking up with knots in her stomach.
"When I do sleep, I have horrible nightmares," King said, who turns 85 years old next month. "I'm concerned, of course, very concerned, but I know that God's got it and that's hard because I'm human and I don't know how he's got it."
King said her stress stems from a letter she received last year from the Texas Health and Human Services, which said they had approved her for SNAP benefits before noticing an "agency error."
The letter said that, due to the state's error, King must now repay the full $8,927 she received over a three-and-a-half-year period.
After King couldn't pay it, she received a letter from the federal government notifying her that they would take up to 15 percent of her Social Security check every month, which she said would be about $200.
13 Investigates first reported about King's situation on Monday, and over the last few days, her story has received thousands of comments from viewers across the U.S. wanting to help.
"The YouTube algorithm took me to your recent story on this poor woman who was being chased by the government for a food stamp overpayment," one viewer wrote in an email to 13 Investigates. "(I) was hoping you ... could direct me to any official type avenue to donate to her cause."
RELATED: 84-year-old seeking job to repay $8K in SNAP benefits as state admits error
King said any GoFundMe that claims it was set up by her is not legitimate.
"I wouldn't think of doing that, especially after all this," King said. "I'm not asking for help from anybody because I just feel like I need to take care of myself."
Still, so many of ABC13's viewers were moved by King's story and wanted to help.
On Thursday, we were able to tell King that a generous viewer paid off the full $8,927 she owes due to the state's error.
"Oh goodness," King said. "Do you know who it was? I would like to thank them."
We told her the donor wants to remain anonymous, and through tears, King said she wants to make sure they know just how much she appreciates them.
Now, King said she feels overwhelmed, but in a good way.
"I just can't believe somebody could do that," King said.
13 Investigates found King isn't the only one who has been overpaid SNAP benefits and must pay the state back.
Nationwide, the overpayment rate for SNAP benefits was 9.26 percent in fiscal year 2024, according to the latest available data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In Texas, the overpayment rate in fiscal year 2024 was nearly 5.77%.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission previously told 13 Investigates in a statement that it is working to improve its SNAP payment accuracy.
"HHSC has implemented targeted case reviews, enhanced staff training, technology-based quality checks, and clearer policy guidance to reduce errors and ensure families receive the correct benefit amount. These efforts help prevent mistakes before benefits are issued," the state agency said in a statement.
Although King said she's thrilled about the support she received from the community, she still wants the state to improve its SNAP approval process so no one else finds themselves in the same situation.
"I was hoping that the average person that has already been hurt by this would come forward and I was hoping that some politician or someone who is in a position to make this right would make it right," King said.
In the meantime, King said the gesture from an anonymous donor to pay off her bill has restored her faith in humanity.
"I guess there are some good people still out there who care and really care," she said.
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