Idaho recorded the second-lowest payment error rate in the country for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during fiscal year 2024-2025, according to federal data — a ranking that places the state far ahead of most others as new national penalties for high-error states loom on the horizon.

The state’s error rate came in at 3.85 percent for the federal fiscal year running October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025. Only South Dakota, at 2.47 percent, performed better. The national average error rate during the same period was 10.62 percent — nearly three times Idaho’s figure.

A Consistent Track Record

The result is not a one-time outlier. Idaho ranked in the top three nationally for payment accuracy in fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024 as well, though comparable data from 2020 and 2021 are not available. The state now serves just over 123,000 residents through SNAP, with an average monthly benefit of $180 per person.

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare spokesperson AJ McWhorter credited agency staff with the achievement. “The department maintains a strong commitment to accuracy, accountability, and service delivery,” McWhorter said, adding that the low error rate “reflects the dedication of staff who work diligently to ensure that benefits are issued correctly and efficiently to eligible households.”

New Federal Penalties Add Pressure Nationally

The timing of Idaho’s strong showing is notable. Starting October 1, 2027, the federal government will impose financial penalties on states whose SNAP payment error rates reach or exceed 6 percent. With the national average already well above that threshold, many states face potential consequences — though Idaho’s rate leaves it with substantial cushion.

The penalties are part of a broader federal effort to tighten program administration and reduce improper payments across the country’s food assistance system.

State-Level Changes in Effect

Idaho has also been working through a series of state and federal policy shifts that affect who qualifies for SNAP and how the program is administered.

Earlier this year, the Idaho Legislature passed House Bill 730, approving $351,000 in state general funds to help manage administrative changes. Separately, recent modifications to federal SNAP law removed eligibility for refugees who have not yet obtained green cards, and expanded work requirements took effect in April.

The state’s Health and Welfare agency is also expected to increase the frequency of eligibility checks beginning in July — a move that could further affect caseload levels and accuracy metrics going forward.

On the cost side, federal law has increased the state’s share of SNAP administration expenses, adding an estimated $6 million annually to Idaho’s budget obligations. That shift in cost-sharing has prompted state officials to look closely at how administrative resources are deployed. Idaho’s top budget official has already signaled a broader push for fiscal restraint across state agencies, directing departments to hold the line on spending.

What’s Next

The July eligibility review changes will be among the first visible tests of how Idaho’s administrative infrastructure handles an accelerated workload. How those reviews are managed could influence the state’s error rate for the current fiscal year — and whether Idaho holds its place near the top of the national rankings.

Nationally, the 2027 penalty deadline will put increasing pressure on states currently above the 6 percent threshold to improve their own processes. For Idaho, the more immediate question is whether rising administrative costs and policy changes will affect the efficiency that has defined the state’s SNAP program in recent years.

Idaho has roughly 16 months before the next full fiscal year’s error data would be compiled, giving administrators time to adapt to the new eligibility check schedule and any further federal rule changes before the penalty regime takes effect.