Pennsylvania’s food assistance program error rate dropped below the national average for the first time since 2019, according to data released last week by state officials.
However, upcoming changes to federal SNAP funding could affect the program’s operations statewide.
A federal bill supported by President Donald Trump passed the Senate on July 1, including reductions to programs such as SNAP.
The proposal, which ties state SNAP funding to error rates, is currently under consideration in the House of Representatives. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), the legislation could cost the state more than $1 billion annually.
DHS reported that Pennsylvania’s 2024 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) error rate fell to 10.76%, down nearly six percentage points from 2023 and below the national average of 10.93%.
Department officials said the improvement follows ongoing efforts to strengthen the accuracy and administration of benefits.
“This is a clear sign of the work we’ve done to strengthen the integrity and accuracy of the program,” DHS spokesperson Brandon Cwalina said. “The Shapiro administration is committed to fiscal responsibility and the careful management of public resources.”
In the Lehigh Valley, food insecurity remains a concern. Approximately 17% of Lehigh County residents and 11% of Northampton County residents receive SNAP assistance, according to state data.
DHS officials emphasized that the SNAP error rate does not measure fraud, but rather administrative or paperwork mistakes. Even when errors are identified and corrected during the review process, they are still counted in official reporting.
“There’s been a lot of mischaracterization about the error rate as fraud or misuse,” DHS Communications Director Ali Fogarty said. “But it’s just one relatively small piece of what goes into the error rate, and it’s entirely separate from the actual fraud and waste that we work with the Office of State Inspector General to prevent and identify every day.”
Nationally, the average error rate improved by less than one percentage point from 2023 to 2024, compared with Pennsylvania’s nearly six-point drop. DHS attributed the state’s progress to investments in staffing, training, and oversight — support officials said could be at risk under the proposed federal changes.
“If states are shouldering more of the cost for this program, administrative improvements would likely come at cutting life-sustaining benefits for the people SNAP serves,” DHS said in a statement.
Local food banks and nonprofit organizations continue to support families, seniors, and children in the region who rely on SNAP as part of their household budget.
Cwalina said DHS plans to continue advocating against the proposed funding structure and working to maintain access to food assistance.
“We’ll keep working to lower the error rate and ensure Pennsylvanians — including those in the Lehigh Valley — can rely on the food assistance they need to support themselves and their families,” he said.