Welfare is big business in Pennsylvania. So is Welfare fraud.

These facts should not go unnoticed as the state eases eligibility requirements for one of its biggest benefit programs — food stamps.

The Department of Human Services is ending the asset test, a rule imposed three years ago by former Gov. Tom Corbett that requires an accounting of cash, stocks, personal property and other items owned by applicants for food stamps. Now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, its funding helps about 1.8 million Pennsylvanians.

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration estimates the change will save about $3.5 million a year by reducing administrative costs and errors. Officials say errors in measuring assets disproportionately affects disabled and older recipients and prevents people with some minimal personal assets from collecting food stamps.

No matter how noble the intentions, a relaxation of eligibility requirements for government benefits won’t result in tax dollars saved — particularly when the program distributes $2.7 billion annually. That wouldn’t hold true even in an ideal world where nobody cheats or steals.

And Pennsylvania is far from an ideal world. If you Google “Welfare fraud PA” you’ll see report after report of criminal convictions. The state Office of Inspector General says its Bureau of Fraud Prevention and Prosecution “saved the Commonwealth in excess of $90.4 million in Welfare benefits that otherwise would have been incorrectly paid out to an applicant or recipient” in fiscal 2013-14, the last year for which figures are available. Food stamps make up a significant share of the $90.4 million.

Elimination of the asset test will make the SNAP program more efficient, but it will increase not only the burden for fraud prevention agents but also the odds of applicants taking benefits for which they don’t qualify.

Gov. Wolf campaigned on a pledge to do away with the asset test, and his pledge has merit. However, welfare fraud and SNAP cheats will only be encouraged by the easing of SNAP eligibility requirements — the conditions addressed by Corbett’s order still exist and need to be addressed again.

At the very least, let’s ask Wolf to show confidence in his projected savings and add the $3.5 million to the Office of Inspector General’s Bureau of Fraud Prevention and Prosecution. It would be money well spent.

— T.A.H.