Oklahoma SNAP Error Rate Raises Concerns After Auditor Warning
- mike33692
- 8 hours ago
- 1 min read
Oklahoma SNAP Error Rate Concerns Highlighted by Lawmakers After Auditor Warning
Lawmakers are responding to new findings tied to the Oklahoma SNAP error rate, after state auditors warned the state could face federal penalties if accuracy issues aren’t addressed. The concerns center on how benefits are calculated and processed for hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans who rely on food assistance.
Oklahoma SNAP error rate nearly double federal threshold
State Auditor Cyndi Byrd reported the state’s SNAP error rate is approaching 11 percent, nearly double the federal government’s target of about 6 percent. That gap could trigger financial penalties and require Oklahoma to cover a larger share of benefit costs.
The program serves nearly 700,000 residents statewide, with more than half of recipients children.
Lawmakers push for staffing and oversight improvements
House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson says the focus should be on strengthening staffing and improving internal review processes at the Department of Human Services. She argues the state must be equipped to identify and correct errors as applications are processed.
Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services administer SNAP in the state and coordinate with federal partners.
Federal oversight tied to funding and program accuracy
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP nationwide, sets accuracy benchmarks for states. Falling outside those benchmarks can lead to corrective action plans, financial penalties, or increased state funding responsibilities.
Policy analysts say SNAP error rates often reflect staffing shortages, complex eligibility rules, and surges in applications during economic downturns.
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