For Pennsylvania, the consequences could be devastating. According to Pennsylvania Policy Center estimates, the Commonwealth could face approximately $410 million in new annual SNAP benefit costs, in addition to $115 million in increased annual administrative expenses. That represents $525 million in potential new annual costs that Pennsylvania would have to absorb to continue participating in SNAP. With Pennsylvania already facing a budget deficit, these added costs could jeopardize funding for schools, health care, transportation, and other essential services.

Congress can give states two more years to improve their administrative systems, reduce payment errors, and prepare before facing substantial new costs. But that delay must not be paid for with deeper SNAP cuts or higher costs for states in the future. The Farm Bill proposal passed by the Senate Agriculture Committee provides only a one-year delay and would later increase the highest state share of SNAP benefit costs from 15% to 20%, beginning in fiscal year 2031. That would leave states with higher payment error rates facing even greater costs.

Tell Congress to reject the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Farm Bill proposal and prioritize a two-year SNAP cost shift delay that protects SNAP without any additional cuts or higher future costs for states.