Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Basic page SNAP Quality Control - Error Tolerance Threshold

The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 set a tolerance level, or threshold, for excluding small errors from calculation of the SNAP payment error rate. Beginning with fiscal year 2015, the threshold has been adjusted annually to correspond with changes in the Thrifty Food Plan for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia.

04/30/2024
Resource | Policy FY 15 SNAP QC Tolerance Level

SNAP’s QC system uses a tolerance level to set the threshold for determining which errors are included in the national payment error rate calculation. The first year the TFP based adjustment will occur is FY 2015. FNS is adjusting the threshold using the TFP for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. FNS calculated the percentage change between the June 30, 2013 TFP (FY 2014) and the June 30, 2014 TFP (FY 2015). FNS has applied that percentage to the $37 QC tolerance level, which results in an increase to $38.

SNAP QC PM 14-03
04/29/2024
Resource | Policy SNAP Quality Control Error Tolerance Threshold for FY 2024

The SNAP QC system use a tolerance level to set a monetary threshold for determining which QC errors are included in the calculation of payment error rates. This threshold is adjusted annually to correspond with changes in the Thrifty Food Plan.

QC Policy Memo 23-04
04/24/2024
Resource | Federal Register Documents Comment Request - Understanding Risk Assessment in SNAP Payment Accuracy

FNS is conducting a study, Understanding Risk Assessment in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Payment Accuracy, to develop a comprehensive picture of whether and how SNAP state agencies use RA tools and determine if these tools create disparate impacts on protected classes. 

04/09/2024
Resource | Federal Register Documents Information Collection - Assessment of Administrative Costs of eHIP

This is a new collection for the study “Assessment of Administrative Costs of Electronic Healthy Incentives Projects (eHIP).” This study will calculate costs incurred by eHIP, which will provide incentives through EBT integration to increase purchase of healthy foods (e.g., fruits and vegetables) by SNAP participants.

04/04/2024
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Letter from Secretary Vilsack to Governors on SNAP Performance and Operations
01/31/2024
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance SNAP Application Processing Timeliness: Effective Practices, Promising Initiatives, and Helpful Resources

States are responsible for meeting federal SNAP requirements for timely processing of applications. This resource summarizes the valuable information contributed by participating states.

01/16/2024
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance SNAP Payment Accuracy: Effective Practices, Promising Initiatives, and Helpful Resources

States are responsible for maintaining the integrity of SNAP by issuing accurate benefits to eligible households. This resource summarizes the valuable information contributed by participating states.

01/11/2024
Resource | Info Sheets Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE)

Broad-based categorical eligibility is a policy that makes most households categorically eligible for SNAP because they qualify for a non-cash TANF or state maintenance of effort funded benefit.

11/02/2023
Page updated: October 14, 2021