US SNAP Payment Error Rate Hits High of 10.62 Percent

States with error rates above 6 percent will have to fund a portion of SNAP benefits.

People shop for food at a store that accepts food stamps in New York, in an undated file photograph. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The national payment error rate for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) hit 10.62 percent for the fiscal year 2025, far exceeding the 6 percent threshold set by Congress.

“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,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in a June 24 statement.