The Latest on SNAP Research Barbara Murphy Dr. Anita Singh USDA Food and Nutrition Service Office of Policy Support
Setting the Research Agenda Agency Priorities Improve program access and reduce hunger Improve nutrition and reduce obesity Promote program integrity and reduce improper payments Other support for program management and performance
Setting the FNS Research Agenda Work with SNAP Program partners and other stakeholders to identify research needs. Evidence- Based Policy Decisions Design and implement research studies that will answer key policy questions
Where do these statistics come from? Nearly 2/3 of SNAP participants are children, elderly, or adults with disabilities. Nearly 1/3 of SNAP households had earnings. In FY14, 83% of eligible individuals participated in SNAP. Participating in SNAP for 6 months is associated with a 5 to 10 percentage point decrease in food insecurity. SNAP households redeem 80% of benefits within two weeks of issuance. Between 2009-2011, about 1.3 cents of each benefit dollar was trafficked. The estimated rate of churn by SNAP households in six States ranged from 17% to 28% in FY11.
These all come from OPS Studies!
Recently Released Studies
Asset Limits and Their Impact on SNAP Participation and Financial Stability Who are households with higher assets? What kinds of asset holdings do SNAP households have? How do asset limits/bbce impact SNAP households? Methods: Analysis of data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation over a 12-year period. Microsimulation model to examine how asset limits impact eligibility Key measures liquid assets, bank accounts
Asset Limits and Their Impact on SNAP Participation and Financial Stability Key Results: Households with higher assets older and better educated SNAP households were less likely than other low income households to have any liquid assets. Only half had bank accounts (median value = $150) SNAP households in BBCE States fared somewhat better: More likely to have a bank account More likely to have at least $500 in savings Less likely to churn No impact on spell length Asset holdings are still well under Federal limits.
Feasibility of Tribal Administration of Nutrition Assistance Programs Required by the 2014 Farm Bill Examined tribal interest in administering federal nutrition programs in lieu of States. Methods: Review of relevant program rules and guidance for 4 larger nutrition programs Survey of Tribes Site visits to a small number of Tribes
Feasibility of Tribal Administration of Nutrition Assistance Programs Key Results: Tribes were interested in operating FNS programs. Interest was conditional for many Tribes Interest varied by size of Tribe Majority of Tribes had relevant experience with similar program administration activities. Key challenges include funding, infrastructure, and merit-based staff for SNAP. Identifies common themes, but not the unique concerns and challenges of individual Tribes.
Elimination of Cash Portion of NAP Benefit in Puerto Rico Required by the 2014 Farm Bill Examined potential impacts of discontinuing the cash portion of the NAP benefit Methods: Meetings and interviews with key Stakeholders Household survey, in-person interviews, and focus groups with NAP participants, retailers, and stakeholders Analysis of existing data
Elimination of Cash Portion of NAP Benefit in Puerto Rico Key Results: NAP participants and retailers do not face barriers to redeeming noncash NAP benefits. Discontinuing the cash portion would likely have little impact on food access. Participants report that it is easy to redeem the noncash portion of their benefit. Retailers do not face barriers to EBT. Although food access was not an issue, most NAP participants felt discontinuing the cash portion would have a negative impact. Nearly 2/3 of NAP households had no gross income
Feasibility of Implementing SNAP in the CNMI Required by the 2014 Farm Bill Assessed CNMI s capacity to administer SNAP in 6 key areas: Determining eligibility and benefits Implementing an eligibility system Implementing EBT Maintaining program integrity Implementing work requirements Sharing administrative costs. Methods: Interviews and meetings with key stakeholders (retailers, NAP participants, CBOs, program officials) Site visits to CNMI and Guam Document reviews
Feasibility of Implementing SNAP in the CNMI Key Results: CNMI would benefit from having SNAP or a SNAP-like alternative. Eligibility and benefits are restricted to the most financially needy households. Benefits are lower than US or Guam levels. Significant challenges exist to implementing SNAP Technical capacity Staffing and infrastructure Remote location In lieu of implementing SNAP, CNMI could use available Farm Bill funding for NAP enhancements Expanding eligibility and/or benefits System improvements
Ongoing Research
FoodAPS Partnership with the Economic Research Service. Collects detailed data on household food acquisitions: Quantities, prices, and expenditures; Household characteristics; and Geolocation data Random sample of US households includes a nationally representative sample of SNAP households FoodAPS1 fielded in 2012
FoodAPS Key Results from FoodAPS1: Nearly 90 % of SNAP households do their primary grocery shopping at a large grocery store or superstore. This store is usually not the closest SNAP-authorized store Public use data file available soon Ongoing FoodAPS Activities: Testing alternate methods of data collection (tablets, smart phones) Evaluating FoodAPS1 to look for methodological improvements All in preparation for FoodAPS2 For more information: http://www.ers.usda.gov/dataproducts/foodaps-national-household-food-acquisition-andpurchase-survey.aspx
The Extent of Trafficking in SNAP: 2012-2014 Study is seventh in a series of periodic updates Uses information from administrative investigations of SNAP retailers to estimate: Total value of redemptions trafficked Trafficking rate Store violation rate Final report expected late 2016/early 2017
Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI)Grant Program Section 4405 provided $100 million to support projects to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables among SNAP participants by providing incentives at the point of purchase $35 million in FY15 $20 million each in FY16 and FY17 $25 million in FY18 Up to 10% of funds for admin and evaluation
Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI)Grant Program Three types of grants: Pilot projects: <$100k, one year FINI projects: community based, <$500k, 4 years FINI Large-Scale projects: multi-county, Statewide and regional programs, >$500k, 4 years NIFA awarded first round of grants in April 2015 to projects in 26 states Second round of grants awarded in June 2016 in 18 states
Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI)Grant Program Farm Bill requires a rigorous, independent evaluation that measures impact of each project on: Improving nutrition and health status of households receiving incentives Increasing fruit and vegetable purchases FNS is overseeing independent evaluation Westat is conducting the evaluation OMB approval for data collection expected shortly
Demonstration Projects to End Childhood Hunger The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) provided $40 million for USDA to conduct and evaluate demonstration projects to test innovative strategies to end child hunger and food insecurity HHFKA requirements: One project on an Indian reservation Conduct rigorous independent evaluation of each project to measure impact on food security
Five Demonstration Projects Nevada Navajo Nation Chickasaw Nation Kentucky Virginia
Barriers Constraining the Adequacy of SNAP Allotments Purpose: Identify the individual, household, and environmental barriers that constrain SNAP participants ability to access a healthy diet Based on recommendation from IOM Study includes nationally representative participant survey as well as in-depth interviews Sample of participants from 30 States
SNAP Application Processing Timeliness(APT) Study Purpose: To determine best practices for facilitating high APT rates, and to identify State policy and procedural practices that facilitate and hinder APT rates. Research Objectives: Describe each State s SNAP policy and operational procedures Identify the policy and operational procedures that may impede or facilitate SNAP application processing timeliness Describe the associations between State policy and operational procedures and APT rates
SNAP Application Processing Timeliness(APT) Study Study Methodology: Comprehensive review of program components and practices: Survey of all 50 States and the District of Columbia Review of administrative data Eight States are participating on the study advisory board Status: Data collection projected to begin in summer 2017
New Studies
Analysis of SNAP-Ed Data for all States Study Overview: The study will review and analyze SNAP-Ed state plans, annual reports, Education and Administration Reporting System (EARS) data and annual SNAP-Ed expenditure data from Fiscal Years 2014-2016 for all States. Results of the review and analysis will be used to develop a standardized template for states to use for their SNAP-Ed annual reports to allow FNS to aggregate State-level data for National level reporting.
Analysis of SNAP-Ed Data for all States Research Objectives For each state, assess adherence of planned programming in state plans to what was delivered and reported in EARS and in annual reports by and across the three fiscal years. For each state assess the variation in the estimated cost for planned programming and actual expenditures. Across all states, identify common SNAP-Ed programing and determine what types of programming have the best outcomes. Across all states, determine how states are using interventions included in the SNAP-Ed toolkit and guidance included in the SNAP-Ed evaluation framework. Assess whether State Plans and the EARS forms (current and revised) are collecting the information needed to assess program performance for each state. Create, test, and validate a standardized template states can use when submitting their annual reports using indicators from the SNAP-Ed evaluation framework.
Quantifying the Extent of Identity Theft in SNAP Research Objectives Estimate the prevalence of identity theft in SNAP for the study States. Estimate the annual cost of identity theft to SNAP in the study States. Describe the efforts the two study States are making to detect and prevent identity theft in SNAP. Develop a set of best practices for States to use for detecting and preventing the use of identity theft data for obtaining SNAP benefits. Study Methodology Contractor will work with two States selected by FNS to quantify the extent of identity theft in SNAP in these states. The study design involves obtaining caseload data from the study States and other data needed for identity verification.
Assessment of States Use of Computer Matching Protocols in SNAP Research Objectives: To inventory all data matches that State SNAP offices currently use and plan to use in the near future. To identity and describe all the data systems used for matching by each State SNAP Agency. To identity and describe the purposes for which States pursue each data match To calculate the annual and per-usage costs incurred in carrying out data match, in total, and where possible, for each individual match Study Methodology Web-based survey of all 53 SNAP State Agencies
Impact of ABAWD Time Limits Research Objectives: Examine trends in ABAWD participation over time. Examine how the expiration of ABAWD time limits impacts caseload. Identify challenges and policy considerations for serving ABAWDs. Tracking Monitoring Waiver process Study components: Interviews with key stakeholders Analysis of caseload data from 9 States Interviews with SMEs in those States Analysis of existing data
Impact of ABAWD Time Limits Timeline: Recruit States: Winter 2017 Acquire caseload data: Calendar year 2017 Final report: Winter 2019 What s in it for you? Learn more about the characteristics of this group and what happens to them after time limits are implemented. Share best practices for dealing with the challenges and complexities of ABAWD policy.
Assessment of Alternatives to Improve Elderly Access Research Objectives: Examine whether alternative program models improve access. Obtain client perspective on alternative program models. Identify best practices. Study components: Study of State Interventions Study of Elderly Participant Perspectives Study of Intervention Effects Timeline: Recruit States: Winter 2017 Site visits and elderly interviews: May 2018 Jan 2019
Assessment of Alternatives to Improve Elderly Access What s in it for you? Share innovative strategies with other States. Gain insight on elderly perspectives about these program options. Best practices for serving this vulnerable population.
This all sounds great!! How can I help?? If contacted, agree to be a study State!
For more information: Barbara Murphy (barbara.murphy@fns.usda.gov) Anita Singh (anita.singh@fns.usda.gov) Approved Research and Evaluation plans are posted on the OPS webpage: http://www.fns.usda.gov/ops/study-evaluation-plan Final reports and study summaries are posted on the OPS webpage: http://www.fns.usda.gov/ops/supplemental-nutritionassistance-program-snap-research Congressional District Fact Sheets: http://www.fns.usda.gov/ops/snap-communitycharacteristics