NewsWFLA News Channel 8October 25, 2026Hillsborough County
States face federal SNAP funding shifts and potential benefit cuts over error rates
Photo: WFLA News Channel 8
States are under federal pressure to lower their SNAP benefit payment error rates below 6% or risk absorbing a portion of program costs, which could lead to reduced benefits for recipients. A law passed last year ties federal SNAP funding to error rates, requiring states failing to meet the target to fund 5% to 15% of benefit costs starting in October 2027. Only nine states met the 6% error rate goal as of the 2025 fiscal year.
Read the full story at WFLA News Channel 8Why It Matters
States with error rates above 6% must cover millions in benefit costs themselves, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates could cause about 300,000 residents to face reduced or eliminated SNAP benefits and approximately 96,000 children to see lower child nutrition subsidies.
Key Facts
- A federal law passed last year ties SNAP error rates to federal funding, requiring states to maintain an error rate under 6% to avoid penalties.
- As of the 2025 fiscal year, only nine states met the 6% error rate goal: Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
- Forty-one states missed the target, with the national average error rate sitting at approximately 11%.
- Alaska recorded the highest error rate in the country at 23%, down from 60% in 2023.
- States can choose to use either their 2025 or 2026 error rates when determining cost-sharing percentages starting in October 2027.
- Alaska, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, and D.C. will receive at least one extra year to reduce their error rates due to particularly high levels.
- Instead of cutting direct benefit payments, the law forces non-compliant states to shoulder 5% to 15% of SNAP benefit costs depending on their error rate.
- The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the resulting state-level cost shifts could lead states to reduce or eliminate SNAP benefits for about 300,000 people.
- Child nutrition program subsidies could decrease for approximately 96,000 children due to related fiscal pressures.
- Missouri had an 8.7% error rate last year and may have to cover $150 million of its $1.5 billion in annual benefit costs starting in October 2027.
- SNAP enrollment nationwide fell from 42.2 million in May 2025 to 36.6 million in May following the passage of the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' which tightened eligibility requirements.
Who's Mentioned
locationDelaware“State given at least one more year to reduce error rates.”OrganizationThe Associated Press“Contributed to the report.”locationVermont“State with an error rate under 6%.”locationOregon“State given at least one more year to reduce error rates.”locationKentucky“State with an error rate under 6%.”OrganizationCongressional Budget Office“Estimated that states reducing or eliminating SNAP benefits will affect about 30”OrganizationSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program“Federal food assistance program formerly known as Food Stamps.”locationMissouri“Had an error rate of 8.7% last year.”locationWyoming“State with an error rate under 6%.”locationAlaska“State with the highest error rate in the country at 23%.”PersonMegan Darrow“Spokesperson who commented on Alaska's error rate.”OrganizationDepartment of Health“Provided context regarding Alaska's error rate.”locationGeorgia“State given at least one more year to reduce error rates.”locationNebraska“State with an error rate under 6%.”locationUtah“State with an error rate under 6%.”locationSouth Dakota“State with an error rate under 6%.”locationIllinois“State given at least one more year to reduce error rates.”locationD.C.“Given at least one more year to reduce error rates.”locationNew Mexico“State given at least one more year to reduce error rates.”locationIowa“State with an error rate under 6%.”locationIdaho“State with an error rate under 6%.”locationWisconsin“State with an error rate under 6%.”OrganizationAnchorage Daily News“Publication where the spokesperson's comments were previously told.”