Upcoming funding shifts in the federal food stamp program are poised to cost states billions of dollars, heightening fears that more Americans will lose access to the nation’s largest food assistance program. Already, more than 4 million Americans have lost SNAP benefits, putting more pressure on food banks and food pantries across the country. States with a payment error rate above 6% will have to fund 5% to 15% of their benefit payments. “What is happening is a version of what I’ve been calling ‘can’t see the forest for the payment error rate trees,’” she said. In Alabama, officials said the state continues to prioritize staff training, automation and other changes to reduce the state’s error rate.