Illinois SNAP Errors Could Result in Penalties
Illinois is at risk of incurring penalties of up to $700 million due to errors in determining eligibility for food assistance under a new federal law.
To mitigate this, the state must enhance its administrative precision to protect both taxpayers and struggling families.
- 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.
- Overpayments accounted for 10.6% of Illinois' SNAP errors in 2024, while underpayments were less than 1%.
- A 12% error rate could cost the state approximately $705 million annually.
Illinois taxpayers could be responsible for millions in penalties if the state fails to rectify its mistakes in food assistance eligibility determinations.
Author's summary: Illinois faces penalties due to SNAP errors.