Financial Strain and Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Issue 3 (3rd July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chang, Yunhee; Chatterjee, Swarn; Kim, Jinhee
• Is Part Of: Journal of policy practice. Volume 16:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 221
• Page End: 246
• Publication Date: 2017-07-03
• Subjects: SNAP -- financial strain -- emergency funds -- financial assets -- household finance; Social policy -- Periodicals; United States -- Social policy -- Periodicals; 361
• DOI: 10.1080/15588742.2016.1222924
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1558-8742

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has increased over the past decade. Although poverty and sudden financial shock faced by households via unanticipated adverse events, such as sudden loss of income, are among major contributors, the findings of our study suggest that having an adequate stock of savings and financial assets might reduce the probability of household SNAP participation. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, we tested whether a household's emergency savings, asset poverty, and debt burden could predict SNAP participation separately from the effects of income and program participation. Results demonstrate that a household's lack of emergency savings and asset inadequacy increased the probability of its SNAP participation. Implications for financial practitioners and policy makers are discussed.