Michigan Reports Double-Digit Errors in SNAP Benefit Payments

A large number of Food Stamp recipients are not receiving the correct amount of benefits each month, according to new data released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

About 1.3 million people in Michigan get assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) each month. SNAP benefits help people living in households with low incomes by providing food assistance. Those who qualify receive Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards and the money loaded on those cards can be used toward the purchase of food.

SNAP Benefits Errors Throughout the United States

Data released by the USDA and the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) revealed that in 2023, the program overpaid recipients roughly 10 percent of the time while the underpayment rate in the US was 1.64 percent.

While many states have posted double-digit payment error rates, Alaska is the most egregious with nearly 60 percent of its SNAP benefit recipients getting more than their fair share each month.

Michigan SNAP Benefit Error Rates

While Michigan's error rates are more in line with the national average, the Great Lakes State falls in the bottom half, with 26 states having lower overall payment error rates.

The USDA and FNS report indicates that 8.69 percent of Michigan SNAP benefit recipients received overpayments in 2023. However, only 2.03 percent of recipients were underpaid, accounting for Michigan's overall payment error rate of 10.72 percent.

Newsweek reports that the overall overpayment rates are said to account for a loss of more than $10 billion in federal money.