Hailey
A political fight has started in Kansas over how the state handles SNAP payments. SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a federal program that helps low-income families buy food.
House Speaker Dan Hawkins says the error rate in Kansas SNAP payments has climbed back to 12%, which is double the federal target of 6%.
He claims the state is hiding the truth, while Governor Laura Kelly’s team says the numbers are public and the accusations are wrong.
What Is SNAP and Why the Error Rate Matters
SNAP is a program funded by the federal government but managed by states. It gives monthly food benefits to families who qualify.
- Error rate means the percentage of payments made incorrectly — either to people who don’t qualify or in amounts that are wrong.
- The federal goal is to keep this error rate below 6%.
- Higher error rates can lead to wasted taxpayer money and less help for families who really need it.
The Speaker’s Claims
House Speaker Dan Hawkins believes Kansas’s Department for Children and Families (DCF) is not being open about SNAP data. He says:
- In 2023, the error rate was over 12%.
- In 2024, it dropped to around 10%.
- In 2025, he claims it’s back up to 12%.
- DCF is refusing to share private case-level data with the USDA.
- This refusal, he says, hides the real picture from the public and could be a cover-up.
Hawkins wants the USDA, the State Oversight Committee, Kansas’s federal delegation, and the Attorney General to investigate. He says Kansans deserve transparency.
The Governor’s Response
Governor Laura Kelly’s Chief of Staff, Will Lawrence, called Hawkins’s comments “baseless.”
According to Lawrence:
- The error rates are already publicly available.
- The state is following privacy laws by not sharing certain personal data.
- A current lawsuit against the USDA challenges requests for private information that go beyond what’s needed for eligibility checks.
DCF says that under state and federal law, they cannot give out personal details for the period January 1, 2020 – July 30, 2025. This is to protect the privacy of thousands of Kansans.
Kansas SNAP Payment Error Rates
| Year | SNAP Payment Error Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Over 12% | Double the federal target |
| 2024 | Around 10% | Some improvement |
| 2025 | 12% (claimed) | Hawkins says it rose again |
Why This Matters to Kansans
This dispute is about more than just numbers. High error rates could mean:
- Taxpayer money is wasted.
- People who truly need help might get less support.
- The public’s trust in state programs could be weakened.
Both sides say they want accountability and accuracy, but they disagree on how to achieve it. Hawkins focuses on sharing more data; the Governor focuses on protecting privacy.
This political clash shows how difficult it can be to balance transparency and privacy. Kansas’s SNAP program has struggled with error rates above the federal target for years — 12% in 2023, about 10% in 2024, and reportedly back to 12% in 2025.
The House Speaker wants federal and state investigators involved, while the Governor’s office says these accusations are wrong and the data is already public.
For families relying on SNAP, what matters most is that payments are correct, so food assistance goes to the right people at the right time.