With the recent government shutdown, this claim that SNAP recipients are abusing the system has been used to defend the cutting of benefits for SNAP, or the supplemental nutrition assistance program. However, this argument is heavily flawed and has been shown to be very rare. USDA estimated an 11.7% improper payment rate, meaning about $10.5 billion in SNAP benefits paid incorrectly. (USDA, 2025). Overpayments are relatively high, but a significant portion is not due to deliberate fraud — rather, they stem from administrative or reporting errors. The distinction between “error rate” and “fraud rate” is the key argument here: just because money was mispaid doesn’t mean most SNAP recipients are abusing the system. Actual fraud is only around 1%, which is much lower than what critics sometimes suggest (USDA, 2025).
SNAP allows over 3.1 million people in the U.S to have adequate access to resources like food and basic needs. Taking away these benefits would create a large disparity in food for low income families trying to get by. Overall, this claim needs context, but is false.
