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Fixing SNAP: Why Lawmakers Want Zero Tolerance for Payment Mistakes

A new bill has been introduced in Congress to improve how accurately the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) delivers benefits. The legislation, called the “Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act,” is spearheaded by Representative Randy Feenstra (R-IA) and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA). The goal is to reduce errors in SNAP payments by tightening the rules and increasing accountability for state agencies that manage the program.

Currently, the USDA only considers payment errors if the amount is more than $54, but the new law proposes eliminating that limit altogether. This means that even the smallest overpayment or underpayment would be flagged as an error. The lawmakers argue that this zero-tolerance policy will help cut down on financial losses and improve program integrity.

Why This Change Matters

SNAP, commonly known as the program that helps low-income households buy groceries, has been facing growing issues with payment accuracy. In 2022, around 10% of SNAP transactions resulted in overpayments, and 1.7% had underpayments. Over the past few years, overpayment rates have been increasing, with taxpayers footing the bill for roughly $1 billion in mistakes each month.

Representative Feenstra called this situation “ridiculous” and said it’s time to make changes. “We have a national debt of over $36 trillion, and we can’t afford to waste taxpayer dollars like this,” he said.

Senator Ernst echoed those concerns. “SNAP is essential for families who need help putting food on the table,” she explained. “But we have to make sure states are doing their part by fixing mistakes and reducing waste.”

What the New Law Would Do

If passed, the “Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act” would:

  • Eliminate the $54 tolerance for payment errors, meaning any amount of overpayment or underpayment would be flagged.
  • Hold state governments accountable by increasing their financial responsibility if they consistently have high error rates.

Supporters of the bill believe that these measures will lead to better monitoring and more efficient use of government funds.

What Critics Are Saying

Not everyone agrees with the strict zero-tolerance approach. Some policy experts warn that getting rid of the $54 threshold could increase the workload for state agencies. Without the buffer, states may have to spend more time and resources identifying even the smallest mistakes, which could slow down the process of delivering benefits to those in need.

A Broader Push for Accuracy

This bill isn’t the only effort aimed at improving SNAP’s performance. The USDA recently updated its “Keys to Payment Accuracy” guide, which offers recommendations for state agencies to reduce errors. The guide is part of a larger strategy to ensure that federal food assistance programs are managed more efficiently and accurately.

For now, all eyes are on Congress to see whether this proposed law will gain enough support to pass. If successful, it could be a major step toward reducing costly errors in one of the country’s most important safety-net programs.

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