Oklahoma risks losing federal SNAP funds over high error rate
Oklahoma must reduce its SNAP error rate to meet federal benchmarks by 2027 or face losing millions in funding, which could strain food banks and nonprofits
Oklahoma is working to lower its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program error rate to meet federal benchmarks by 2027, as failure to do so could result in the loss of millions in federal funding and increased pressure on food banks and nonprofits.
Every state faces a major deadline in 2027 to reduce the number of ineligible people receiving SNAP benefits to achieve a 6% error rate. Oklahoma’s error rate was 11% last year and currently stands at 6.9%.
“If we don’t get the rates down, the state’s on the hook for several hundred million dollars, and at the end of the day, that’s going to cause a strain on food banks, other nonprofits that deliver food assistance,” said Austin Prickett, communications director for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.
The Regional Food Bank emphasized that SNAP provides significantly more food assistance than charitable organizations can manage on their own.
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“So, for every meal that a food bank is able to provide, SNAP provides nine,” Prickett said.
If the state fails to meet the federal requirements, the financial burden could shift to food banks and nonprofits, which are already stretched thin.
“When you kind of take one away, that makes it harder for the others to fill in that gap,” Prickett said. “We’ll step up and do as much as we can. But these federal programs are extremely important.”
The food bank is preparing for the possibility of increased demand, which could further strain resources.
“And we’re going to have to find money and finances to provide more food to folks, which overall is just hard. So, it just puts a strain on the social safety net as a whole. The state’s going to have to find money to pay for that as well. I don’t know if they’re prepared for that or not, but they’re working on it,” Prickett said.
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma says it is collaborating with Oklahoma Human Services and urging the state’s congressional delegation to support delaying the new funding requirements, giving Oklahoma more time to reduce its error rate.
