With federal penalties looming, WA looks to curb food stamp payment errors

States that routinely overpay or underpay food stamp recipients could now lose hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.

This has Washington officials trying to improve the state’s already well below-average error rate in providing benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Ideas include increasing case reviews and establishing a new team focused on reducing mishaps.

The so-called “big, beautiful bill” that congressional Republicans passed in July is set to reduce federal spending on nutrition programs nationwide by an estimated $186 billion over 10 years .

This could cost over 130,000 enrollees their food benefits due to more stringent work requirements, according to state officials. And it stands to shift tens of millions in administrative costs