The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released the annual Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment error rates (PER), which measure how accurately states determine who is eligible for SNAP and how much they should receive.
The national payment error rate for fiscal year (FY) 2025 is 10.62 percent, far surpassing the congressional threshold of six percent.
While this is a modest decrease from FY 2024, the FY 2025 rate still shows significant waste at the state level. Including both overpayments and underpayments, this year’s rate represents a collective $10.1 billion in improper payments nationwide.
“These payment error rates are further proof that state accountability is severely lacking in SNAP,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins. “USDA has taken historic action to help interested states curb SNAP waste, and I hope other states, regardless of political leadership, prioritize needy families and the American taxpayer over politics.”
H.R. 1 added new guardrails for states’ payment error rates, implementing real financial consequences for states that mismanage taxpayer dollars. States with error rates at or above the six percent threshold will be responsible for covering five percent, 10 percent or 15 percent of their states’ benefits. The higher their PER, the higher the percentage—and in most cases, as soon as October 1, 2027. The FY 2025 PER is the first year that could be used to calculate those percentages.
In addition to this matching fund requirement, states with PER at or above the six percent threshold are required to submit a Corrective Action Plan to USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration detailing how they will address the root cause of their errors.
Some of these states may also be liable for a separate financial penalty as part of the SNAP quality control process.
There are two main payment errors: overpayments and underpayments.
Congress set a goal for states to reach a six percent payment error rate.
However, many states greatly missed that target. Alaska had a 23 percent payment error rate, while Oregon had a 14 percent PER, Minnesota had a 12.5 percent PER, and Washington, D.C. had an 18.66 percent PER.
Today's #SNAP payment error rate announcement is not positive for most States. If you accept federal dollars, you must administer the program with integrity and by the rules of the road. Anything less than that is disrespectful to the program, its beneficiaries, and to the… pic.twitter.com/FNsptKkrdB
— Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden (@DepSecVaden) June 24, 2026
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has cracked down on SNAP fraud and has caught nearly 1,000 people accused of stealing from SNAP, which helps feed about 41 million people nationwide.
🚨 Nearly 1,000 alleged fraudsters caught. Great work by @SecRollins and @USDA. https://t.co/p3cglHov5q
— White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud (@WHFraudTF) June 23, 2026
