New federal SNAP rules put pressure on Georgia to reduce payment errors

Georgia has a year before new federal penalties could begin taking effect, but state officials are already facing growing pressure to improve the accuracy of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program after new federal data placed Georgia among the states with the highest payment error rates, according to reporting by the Georgia Recorder.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Georgia’s payment error rate at 15.2%, compared with a national average of 10.6%. The program provides monthly food assistance to about 1.2 million Georgians.

The higher error rate comes as Congress shifts more financial responsibility for SNAP to the states under last summer’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Beginning in October, every state will be responsible for covering 75% of its SNAP administrative costs. In future years, states with payment error rates above 6% could also be required to pay between 5% and 15% of their benefit costs.

Those additional penalties are scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2028, although Georgia is among six states granted an extra year before the cost-sharing requirement takes effect.

According to the Georgia Recorder, a payment error does not necessarily mean fraud occurred. Mistakes may result from applicants failing to report changes to their household or income, or from state workers making errors while determining eligibility or calculating benefits.

The agency said it has already expanded employee training, increased case reviews and sought federal waivers that would automate more of the eligibility process.

“Georgia is committed to getting this right for the individuals and families who depend on SNAP, and we will continue pursuing every available tool to improve accuracy and program integrity,” said Communications Director Ellen Brown.

State lawmakers also allocated additional funding to improve program administration in the budget that takes effect Wednesday. The spending plan includes $6.9 million dedicated to reducing SNAP payment errors.

Daniel Kanso, vice president of public policy at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, said that investment is a step in the right direction but argued Georgia still needs more eligibility workers to process applications and help residents navigate the system.

“We just don’t have the necessary required levels of staff power for folks to be able to reach somebody, to be able to easily navigate when issues emerge,” Kanso said. “At a certain point, we do just need to invest more in the administrative side of the program to make sure that it’s functioning more efficiently.”

For now, Georgia will not have to pay a share of SNAP benefit costs because of its one-year delay. But unless payment errors decline significantly, the state could eventually face millions of dollars in additional expenses on top of its increased administrative responsibilities.