Illinois SNAP Errors Could Result in $700 Million Penalty
Illinois is at risk of incurring significant penalties, up to $700 million, due to errors in determining eligibility for food assistance under a new federal law.
To protect taxpayers and support struggling families, the state must improve its administrative accuracy. The error rate for Illinois' Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was 11.56% in 2024, exceeding the national average and ranking worse than 38 other states.
- Error rate: 11.56% in 2024
- Ranking: Worse than 38 other states
- Annual potential cost: $705 million
Notably, while underpayments were rare (less than 1%), overpayments accounted for 10.6% of Illinois' SNAP errors in 2024. Following the lead of other states could provide a viable path forward for improvement.
Illinois' comeback story starts here.
Author's summary: Illinois risks $700 million in penalties due to SNAP errors.