Alabama’s statewide network of food banks is urging Congress to give the state more time before new federal SNAP funding penalties take effect, warning that the current timeline could force lawmakers to find an additional $174 million or risk losing the food assistance program altogether.

Laura Lester, CEO of Feeding Alabama, said the organization’s request is not to repeal changes made under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill, but rather to give Alabama the same implementation timeline granted to states with the highest payment error rates.

Under the law, states with the highest SNAP payment error rates, those exceeding 13%, received a two-year delay before they must begin paying a share of benefit costs. Alabama, whose 2025 payment error rate was about 9%, did not qualify for the extension and is scheduled to begin paying sooner.

“We’re simply asking for fairness,” Lester said. “If you’ve given that two-year delay to states that have not been performing as well, then every state should have that same opportunity.”

Under the law, states will be required for the first time to pay a share of SNAP benefit costs based on their payment error rates. Alabama’s projected share is approximately $174 million annually. Lester said that without a delay, Alabama would have to appropriate the additional funding beginning next year. 

Lester also said much of the public discussion surrounding Alabama’s error rate has confused administrative mistakes with fraud.

“Error is not fraud,” she said. “These are clerical errors. They include overpayments, underpayments and situations where someone’s work hours changed or a family circumstance changed. Fraud is less than one percent of the program and is investigated and prosecuted separately.”

She also disputed claims that Alabama has one of the nation’s worst payment error rates.

“Our error rate is around nine percent,” Lester said. “It is below the national average and has historically been below the national average.”

While DHR does not publicly list a dedicated SNAP staffing total, Lester said approximately 720 employees administer the program statewide.

“The people working these cases generally spend about an hour with a client,” she said. “Federal reviewers may spend up to two weeks reviewing that same case. It’s simply not the same process.”

New work requirements already affecting recipients

Separate provisions of the federal law have increased SNAP work requirements for those receiving benefits.  Supporters of the federal changes have said expanding work requirements encourages employment and reduces government spending.

Lester argued many of the newly affected recipients already face barriers beyond their control, including transportation, housing instability and limited job opportunities in rural areas.

“The reality of many of these folks is they live in rural communities with no transportation and limited access to jobs,” she said.

The law expands SNAP work requirements to adults through age 64, parents with children age 14 and older, veterans, homeless individuals and former foster youth who were previously exempt from the time limits. 

Lester said Alabama has already seen about 80,000 people leave the SNAP program since the changes began taking effect.

Economic impact extends beyond recipients

Lester believes the issue reaches far beyond households receiving benefits.

SNAP distributes approximately $1.7 billion annually into Alabama’s economy through grocery purchases, supporting retailers across the state, particularly in rural communities.

“If those stores close altogether, those communities lose jobs, tax revenue and often their only grocery store,” she said.

Lester said food banks cannot replace the assistance provided through SNAP.

“For every meal the Feeding Alabama network provides, SNAP provides nine,” she said. “We were never designed to be the front line of hunger relief.”

Last year, Feeding Alabama’s network of eight food banks distributed about 90 million pounds of food, equal to roughly 75 million meals statewide.

“There is no way we could replace what SNAP provides,” Lester said.

Congressional fix under discussion

Congress is considering legislation that would delay implementation of the state cost-sharing requirement.

Lester said one proposal would delay the requirement by one year, but Feeding Alabama believes a broader delay is needed so states are judged using updated payment data that reflects improvements already underway.

“The state is doing everything it can to improve the error rate,” Lester said. “What we’re asking for is enough time for those improvements to actually show up in the data.”

Feeding Alabama has also offered to work with state officials to help identify ways to improve program administration while ensuring eligible families continue receiving assistance.

“We want to be part of the solution,” Lester said. “Our agencies serve these families every day, and we understand the challenges they’re facing.”

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