By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Arizona has a higher-than-average error rate with SNAP payments, and DES said the state could face nearly $300 million in federal penalties if improvements aren’t made.
Read more Agencies find bodies of two boaters in northeastern Arizona
According to recent numbers from the USDA, Arizona’s official SNAP error rate for federal fiscal year 2025 is 10.8%, slightly above the 10.6% national average and well above the 6% federal penalty threshold implemented last year.
If Arizona does not reduce its error rate, it could face up to $300 million in penalties.
DES attributes the situation in part to what it calls the most “sweeping structural changes” to the program “seen in a generation” — under President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. That includes tightened eligibility parameters that require more documents and verification from recipients.
Hundreds of thousands of Arizonans who receive SNAP benefits have been struggling with long wait times and delays because of these federal changes.
Kyra Wilson, a SNAP recipient of eight years, said the past year has been the worst she has experienced.
“Within the last year, it has become nearly impossible,” Wilson said.
Wilson said she was unable to get scheduled appointments and that office visits were cut short.
“You couldn’t get any scheduled times, getting into the office. If they closed past that time, they would almost boot you out for the next day,” Wilson said.
She said she also submitted paperwork without receiving responses.
“We’ve gone and submitted change reports, reviews, and get no response whatsoever,” Wilson said.
Read more US and Iran pause strikes but disagree over next steps on talks
Wilson said she had been receiving just $120 a month in benefits for her family — a significant drop from the prior year.
“$120 is not enough to feed a family, like we don’t buy any snacks or anything like that, we cook everything from home, and it’s not even a week’s worth of food,” she said.
Wilson said this month, for the first time in nearly a year, she received $400 in benefits — the first sign of improvement she has seen.
DES said the situation is improving. The agency reported that 16,000 more people received benefits in May compared to April, following the implementation of a new call-back process aimed at assisting customers more quickly.
Governor Hobbs recently signed Arizona’s fiscal year 2027 budget, which includes $10.8 million in additional funding to help manage increased SNAP eligibility workloads, with the goal of lowering the state’s error rate.
Arizona’s error rate for the current budget cycle will not be officially released until July 2027.
Are you streaming 13 News?
Watch a free live stream of Tucson Now and 13 News at TucsonNow.Live.
Be sure to download the free Tucson Now app, which you can find on Apple and Google.
If you are using a desktop computer, you can use your mobile device to scan the QR code below.
Read more Arizona will spend $53M on school safety. Here’s what it funds
You can submit your breaking news or weather images here.