June 26, 2026:
South Dakota’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s most efficient and effectively run program, according to payment error rates released Wednesday (June 24, 2026) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
SNAP helps low-income South Dakotans purchase food they need to stay healthy while they work to regain financial independence. The SNAP payment error rates measure how accurately states determine household eligibility and benefit amounts. South Dakota’s error rate was 2.47% for fiscal year 2025 (FY25), the lowest of all states. The national rate was 10.62%.
“South Dakota continues to remain a leader in this nation — and I am proud that we continue to have the lowest SNAP error rate,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “We will continue to make smart administrative decisions that safeguard taxpayer dollars and ensure benefits are delivered accurately to those who qualify.”
South Dakota has finished first in SNAP error rate in every year numbers were kept since FY15, except FY19 when the state finished second. A state’s payment error rate is the combination of the overpayment error rate and underpayment error rate. Errors can result from clerical mistakes or from a participant providing inaccurate or incomplete information.
“These numbers reflect a remarkably high rate of accuracy compared to our peers. They are the product of consistent and disciplined efforts made by our staff every day,” said Matt Althoff, the cabinet secretary for the Department of Social Services (DSS), which administers SNAP. “The distinction has been earned through quality training and effective quality control measures, and continuous refinement of processes and procedures. It also reflects a collective resolve among our staff at every level to be good stewards of taxpayer monies.”
H.R.1 added new standards for states’ payment error rates, implementing financial consequences for states above the 6% threshold. States with error rates at or above the threshold will be responsible for covering more of their state’s benefits. South Dakota’s sub-6% error rate means that an estimated $26 million in state general funds were saved during the upcoming fiscal year.
South Dakota’s SNAP also has the lowest Case and Procedural Error Rate in the nation and is the only state to be in the single digits. The national rate was 38.34% while South Dakota’s is at 6.19%. CAPER looks at the accuracy or the decision (deny, terminate, suspend); the accuracy of the notices sent to the household; and the timeliness of the action and notice.
More information on the FY25 data can be found on the DSS website under the Data & Dashboards tab.
June 24, 2026:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released (June 24, 2026) its annual measurement of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program– or SNAP– payment error rates and South Dakota leads the nation doing things correctly.
The rankings measure how accurately states determine who is eligible for SNAP and how much eligible recipients should receive.
In fiscal year 2025, South Dakota’s error rate was 2.47%, compared to the national payment error rate of 10.62%. South Dakota’s overpayment rate was 2.05% and the underpayment rate was 0.42%.
Rounding out the top 10 most accurate states are: Idaho at 3.85%; Wyoming with 3.96%; Kentucky at 4.7%; Iowa with 5.34%; Virgin Islands at 5.36%; Vermont with 5.38%; Utah at 5.54%; and Nevada at 5.9%.
The USDA report shows the least accurate state is Alaska with a 23.15% error rate. They’re followed by: the District of Columbia with 18.66%; New Mexico at 16.81%; Delaware with 16%; and Georgia at 15.21%.
According to USDA when including both overpayments and underpayments, the national error rate of 10.62% represents a total of $10.1 billion in improper payments across the country.
The federal One Big Beautiful Bill (H.R. 1)— signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 3, 2025– implemented financial consequences for states with SNAP error rates at or above the designated threshold of 6%. Those states are responsible for paying 5%, 10% or 15% of their states’ benefits. The higher their error rate, the higher the percentage. In most cases, states over the 6% error rate will have to begin paying for part of the SNAP program as soon as October 1, 2027. (The FY 2025 PER is the first year that could be used to calculate those percentages.)
Additionally, states with an error rate at or above 6% are required to submit a Corrective Action Plan to USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration detailing how they will address the root cause of their errors. Some of these states may also be liable for a separate financial penalty as part of the SNAP quality control process.
Visit the SNAP quality control webpage for more information.
Courtesy image.
Courtesy image.
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