TABLE 1—
Descriptive Characteristics of Sample Households: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Food Security Survey, United States, 2011–2012
| Characteristic | Baseline, % or Mean (SD) | 6-Month Follow-up, % or Mean (SD) | P |
| Female household head | 64.0 | 63.6 | .75 |
| Race/ethnicity of household head | .99 | ||
| Non-Hispanic White | 47.8 | 47.8 | |
| Non-Hispanic Black | 26.3 | 26.3 | |
| Non-Hispanic other | 7.2 | 7.2 | |
| Hispanic | 22.7 | 22.7 | |
| Age of household head, y | .12 | ||
| 18–24 | 20.1 | 20.5 | |
| 25–49 | 52.2 | 53.7 | |
| 50–64 | 21.1 | 19.6 | |
| ≥ 65 | 6.6 | 6.1 | |
| Educational attainment | .74 | ||
| < high school | 22.4 | 22.8 | |
| High school | 32.6 | 32.4 | |
| Some college | 36.1 | 36.3 | |
| ≥ college | 8.9 | 8.5 | |
| Employment status of household head | < .001 | ||
| Not employed | 78.1 | 72.4 | |
| Employed full time | 12.5 | 17.9 | |
| Employed part time | 9.5 | 9.7 | |
| Interview conducted in English language | 90.5 | 90.6 | .97 |
| Monthly income as a percentage of the federal poverty level | 61.6 (68.6) | 71.6 (72.0) | .97 |
| Household size, no. | 2.3 (1.5) | 2.3 (1.4) | .94 |
| Household contains children | 40.9 | 42.6 | .34 |
| Household contains elderly person(s) | 11.8 | 11.0 | .45 |
| Household contains disabled person | 32.2 | 27.1 | .002 |
| Participated in SNAP before current spell | 49.6 | 49.6 | .94 |
| Trigger events in past 6 months | |||
| Change in household size | 21.1 | 16.6 | .003 |
| Eviction | 4.7 | 3.4 | .03 |
| Change in employment, pay, or hours worked | 39.6 | 20.5 | < .001 |
| Region of residence | .89 | ||
| Northeast | 12.8 | 12.8 | |
| Mid-Atlantic | 7.6 | 7.6 | |
| Midwest | 12.6 | 12.6 | |
| Southeast | 25.2 | 25.2 | |
| Southwest | 12.3 | 12.3 | |
| Mountain Plains | 5.7 | 5.7 | |
| West | 23.6 | 23.6 | |
| State 25th percentile wage | 10.75 (0.90) | 10.75 (0.90) | .99 |
| State unemployment rate | 8.8 (1.6) | 8.8 (1.6) | .99 |
| State offers BBCEa | 88.8 | 88.8 | .99 |
| State SNAP certification periodb | 12.2 (0.90) | 12.2 (0.90) | .99 |
Note. BBCE = broad-based categorical eligibility; SNAP = Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Estimates compared 3146 new-entrant SNAP households at baseline and at follow-up 6 months later.
BBCE is noncash benefits or services funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or state maintenance of effort that confer categorical eligibility to virtually all households applying for SNAP.
SNAP participants are required to periodically be recertified to continue to receive benefits. The certification period varies with the likelihood of a change in a SNAP household’s financial circumstances. In fiscal year 2011, SNAP households were certified for benefits for an average of 12 months.