Background
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (previously referred to as the Food Stamp Program) is the largest federally subsidized nutrition assistance program in the United States, being administered by the USDA. This important national nutrition safety net can trace its origins back to as early as 1935 when, in response to the inherent and debilitating poverty of Great Depression, the Food Surplus Commodities Corporation was formed to dispense food commodities by focusing on encouraging domestic consumption of agricultural surpluses rather than on unemployment. Plagued by scandal and rumors of fraud and abuse and the fact that the program (by then called the Food Stamp Program) was never authorized by Congress, it was disbanded in 1943. After 18 y of internal review, research, and discussion, the Food Stamp Act of 1964 officially authorized a national food assistance program to permit low-income households to receive “a greater share of the Nation’s food abundance.” As declared in the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (and amended in P.L. 108-269), the primary goal of the program was and continues to be to “help achieve a fuller and more effective use of food abundances and to provide for improved levels of nutrition among low-income households.” Every 5 y, SNAP is reauthorized by Congress as part of the Farm Bill, the next being part of the 2012 legislative calendar.
Context and content of this report
To ensure maximal effectiveness and efficiency of SNAP, the USDA through the Food and Nutrition Service continues to conduct research and studies aimed at improving this large-scale food assistance program. The report reviewed here represents a summary and critical analysis of past research conducted on SNAP operations and outcomes and was intended to provide useful, timely information needed during the period coinciding with SNAP’s 2012 reauthorization. Indeed, the report is a treasure trove of information gleaned from dozens of private and federally-funded studies conducted to assess various aspects of SNAP over the past 5 y. It also provides a user-friendly description of how SNAP works in terms of funding, administration, eligibility requirements, and distribution of benefits. Most important, however, the report succinctly outlines important trends and facts that illustrate SNAP’s recent successes and contemporary challenges.
Selected key facts
Some of the most eye-catching of these trends and key facts are provided next.
Demographics of SNAP participants.
In 2011, SNAP provided $134 per person to 44.7 million individuals in 21.1 million households each month (∼1 in 7 Americans).
Nearly 55% of SNAP participants are children or the elderly; 41% live in households with earnings (the “working poor”).
Only ∼4% of SNAP households include noncitizens; however, all noncitizen participants are legal immigrants (e.g., refugees).
Overall, 72% of eligible citizens participate in SNAP: 92% of eligible children, 89% of eligible individuals living below poverty, and 35% of eligible elderly.
SNAP, household income, and the national economy.
Earnings from unemployment benefits are the most common single source of income for SNAP households.
One fourth of a SNAP household’s monthly income is associated with SNAP benefits.
Each $1 billion increase in SNAP benefits creates or maintains 18,000 full-time equivalent jobs (including 3000 farm jobs) and creates $1.8 billion in economic activity.
According to the US Census Bureau, including SNAP benefits as income would lift 13% of US households (3.9 million Americans including 1.7 million children) out of poverty.
Duration of SNAP participation and reasons for nonparticipation.
Half of all new SNAP participants leave the program within 10 mo; more than half of those who leave return within 2 y.
Most (66%) of eligible individuals would apply for SNAP benefits if they were certain of their eligibility status.
Among the elderly, low benefit value is a major reason for not participating.
SNAP and nutritional status.
Lower-cost red meats, milk, and yogurt account for the largest shares of foods purchased with SNAP benefits.
Diets of SNAP participants are similar in quality to those of higher-income Americans, even though the latter spend more than twice as much on food as the former.
Increasing the amount that SNAP participants can spend on food improves diet quality, but the improvement is very small.
There is little evidence of a connection between SNAP participation and obesity.
Trafficking and SNAP redemption patterns.
Approximately 1% of every SNAP benefit dollar is trafficked.
Most (83%) of SNAP benefits are redeemed in supermarkets or super stores.
In 2010, SNAP redemption at farmers' markets accounted for only 0.01% of total SNAP redemptions, a 49% increase since 2006.
Summary
This report provides many useful and easy-to-understand facts related to SNAP, which were, hopefully, quite useful to Congress as they deliberated the 2012 Farm Bill. Indeed, objectively assessing access to the program, easing administrative burden for the States, improving oversight and monitoring program operations, and providing nutrition assistance to the nation’s most vulnerable citizens will require ongoing and thoughtful vigilance by the USDA and related organizations for years to come.
For more information
Free copies of this report are available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/ora/menu/Published/snap/FILES/Other/BuildingHealthyAmerica.pdf.
Many of the reports and studies referenced in this document can be found at http://www.fns.usda.gov/ora/menu/Published/SNAP/SNAP.htm.
The Food Stamp Acts of 1964 and 1977 are available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/rules/Legislation/pdfs/PL_88–525.pdf and http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/rules/Legislation/pdfs/PL_88–525a.pdf, respectively.
The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 is available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/rules/Legislation/pdfs/PL_110–246.pdf.