Overview
- Newly released USDA data show widespread SNAP payment errors that could force many states to pay between 5% and 15% of benefit costs under a 2025 law that shifts part of the bill to states.
- Georgia recorded a 15.21% error rate and has budgeted $5.9 million for fiscal 2027 while upgrading its eligibility system to lower mistakes and seek more time to comply.
- Missouri’s FY2025 error rate was 8.67%, which could require the state to cover about 10% of benefits in 2027—roughly $150 million—if it does not reduce errors and if that year is used to set the obligation.
- Maine’s error rate was nearly 11% and the state is hiring 40 eligibility specialists and modernizing systems to cut overpayments, which officials say are mainly administrative mistakes not fraud.
- States, county groups and advocates are pressing Congress to delay the cost shift until 2029 and lawmakers are debating fixes in the farm bill, but no national postponement has been enacted and the still-to-be-released FY2026 error data will be critical to final state liabilities.