WASHINGTON, DC – States could face new budget pressure after USDA reported a national Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payment error rate of 10.62 percent for fiscal 2025.
The department says the rate includes both overpayments and underpayments and represents $10.1 billion in improper payments nationwide. SNAP overpayments alone topped $8.5 billion.
New rules in H.R. 1 create financial consequences for states with error rates at or above 6 percent. Depending on the rate, states could be responsible for 5 percent, 10 percent, or 15 percent of benefit costs, generally beginning October 1, 2027.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman say the numbers support recent accountability reforms. The 2025 rate is down from the past two years, but it remains far above the 5.84 percent national rate reported in fiscal 2005.
For agriculture, SNAP remains both a USDA budget issue and a channel for food demand.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Producers should track SNAP reform because nutrition spending affects USDA budget debates, food demand, and farm bill negotiations.