Illinois faces significant penalties due to errors in determining eligibility for food assistance under a new federal law.
To protect both taxpayers and families in need, the state must enhance its administrative accuracy.
The Illinois Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) error rate, as reported by the Department of Agriculture, stood at 11.56% in 2024. This rate surpasses that of 38 other states and exceeds the national average.
Following the example of other states could provide a viable path forward for Illinois. The state's 12% error rate could potentially lead to an annual cost of $705 million.
Illinois' comeback story starts here.
Author's summary: Illinois risks $700 million in penalties due to SNAP errors.