Kansas Governor Laura Kelly says the state can’t afford higher SNAP costs proposed in the so-called ‘big beautiful bill’ moving through Congress, but most of the increase goes away if her administration reduces its payment error rate.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, under both the Biden and Trump Administrations, has sent letters to Kansas Governor Laura Kelly over the last two years, demanding improvements in the delivery of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps.
SNAP is funded by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), but administered by the states; in Kansas, it is administered by the Department for Children and Families (DCF).
The Biden Administration faulted Kansas last year for subpar results in Application Processing Time (APT), Payment Error Rates (PER), and Case and Procedural Error Rate (CAPER), which is the error rate in applications that were denied, terminated or suspended benefits.
While not citing Kansas in particular this year, the Trump Administration letter to all governors reiterated federal law on the timely processing of benefits.
However, in April testimony before the Kansas House Select Committee on Oversight chaired by Rep. Kristey Williams, DCF Deputy Secretary Tanya Keys admitted the Payment Error Rate for SNAP benefits has ranged from 11.87% in 2023, dipped to 10.11% last year, but rose to 11.6% in FY 2025, all far above the USDA target rate for PER of 6%. Keys’ testimony begins at the 37:00 mark.
The bill moving through Congress would impose a 15% cost share on Kansas because of its high payment error rate. States with payment error rates above 6% will have to pay a cost share ranging from 5% to 15%, but there is no cost share for states with error rates below 6%.
Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins issued a news release critical of the Kelly Administration’s management of the state’s SNAP program, saying Kansas taxpayers could be on the hook for future penalties for exceeding the 6% target rate as part of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” now being debated in Congress:
“The USDA, under both the Biden and Trump Administrations, has sent warning letters to Governor Kelly and her Department of Children and Families regarding their ongoing failure to comply with recertification processing deadlines and excessive errors in determining eligibility for food stamps. Both federal administrations took the Kelly administration to task, calling for improved efficiency in the management of the Kansas program. Both letters were seemingly ignored.
“The solution to this problem is simple – the Kelly Administration can lower its error rate to 6% and the cost share will go to zero. Stop complaining and do your job Governor. The people of Kansas deserve better than this incompetence.”
