Massachusetts overpaid $338 million in SNAP benefits in 2024 due to pandemic-related system strain, not fraud, despite $2B in federal funds.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said a $364 million discrepancy in SNAP payments during 2024 was caused by pandemic-related disruptions, including system challenges and increased demand, leading to $338 million in overpayments despite receiving over $2 billion in federal funding. The Biden administration’s USDA had previously urged the state to improve oversight. Healey rejected claims of widespread fraud, calling them a political distraction linked to former President Trump, and emphasized the errors resulted from operational strain, not intentional misconduct.