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NEW ULM – Administrative shift cost changes regarding SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits took effect October 1.
These changes bring the amount of money provided by the federal government to the administration of SNAP benefits down from 50% to 25%.
"We normally have been receiving 50% of our cost of administering," Director of Human Services Anne Broskoff said. "It pays for staffing and infrastructure needed in order to provide those benefits."
Staff responsibilities include reviewing applications, discussing SNAP information with community members who utilize the program, and distributing EBT cards.
With Minnesota being one of three states where counties are responsible for the non-federal share of administration payments, there will be major effects on Brown County.
"The state of Minnesota is mostly passing along these cuts to the counties so the county tax levy will have to make up for that," Broskoff said. "What was once revenue to offset some of those staffing expenses are now going to be paid for by resident taxes."
Broskoff said that this will not change the aid they give to the community.
"We'll be getting less revenue but we'll still have the same amount of people receiving those benefits, there are no cuts on our side for doing that work," Broskoff said.
In January of 2025, around 780 households in Brown County were receiving SNAP benefits, which roughly translates to 1,600 people.
Projections from the Oct. 1 changes estimate a loss of $380,000 in annual revenue for Brown County.
Broskoff said that another change regarding SNAP benefits may be on the horizon. A benefit cost shift is scheduled to take effect October 1 of 2027. This would change the amount of money states would have to pay for the actual SNAP benefits.
"As of right now, the government pays 100% of what gets put onto people's EBT cards," Broskoff said.
Starting October 1 of 2027, states would be responsible for paying a specific portion of those benefits based on their error rates.
Error rates less than 6% would have no state share of the benefit cost.
6-8% would have a 5% benefit cost.
8-10% would have a 10% benefit cost.
Anything higher than 10% would have a 15% benefit cost.
Broskoff said Minnesota tends to fall into the 8-10% range but has also been above 10% in the past so it is hard to project where they will land.
Certain aspects that determine the error rate are out of the county's hands.
"It can be errors made on behalf of the recipients, but we're going to be held financially responsible for those," she said.
There are efforts to delay the implementation of the 2027 SNAP benefit changes, allowing time for alterations to be made which would work to decrease error rates.
In the meantime, Brown County has the decreased federal share of payments to deal with.
Broskoff said that community members can help out by donating to area food shelves and supporting neighbors who may be in need of assistance.
She also assured that assistance from SNAP is not going anywhere.
"SNAP is still available and we want to make sure that our county citizens know it's still an opportunity," Broskoff said. "You won't know if you are eligible unless you apply."