- New federal legislation will require 35 states to collectively pay approximately $9 billion starting in late 2027 if they fail to reduce payment errors in their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- Under the changes, states with SNAP payment error rates exceeding 6 percent will be responsible for 5 to 15 percent of benefit costs, a new requirement as states previously only shared administrative costs.
- An analysis indicates that states like California and New York could face bills of $1.9billion and $1.15 billion, respectively, leading 11 percent of states to consider withdrawing from the federal food aid program.
- The administration argues these changes are necessary to curb waste, citing $10.1 billion in improper payments last fiscal year, while critics contend they will push vulnerable individuals off the program.
- Since the "One Big, Beautiful Bill" was signed in summer 2025, SNAP enrollment has already decreased by over 4 million people, with critics arguing the reforms disproportionately affect children, low-wage workers, seniors, and people with disabilities.
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