Changes in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program real benefits and daily caloric intake among adults. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Todd, Jessica E.; Gregory, Christian
• Is Part Of: Food policy. Volume 79(2018)
• Page Start: 111
• Page End: 120
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: SNAP cycle -- Food intake -- NHANES -- Benefit amounts -- ARRA -- Food assistance programs; Food supply -- Periodicals; Food security -- Periodicals; Food -- Quality -- Periodicals; Food Supply -- Periodicals; Alimentation -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 338.1905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2018.06.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-9192

Abstract

Highlights: Variation in real SNAP benefits is used to study the SNAP cycle in food intake over the month. Working-age adult SNAP participants experience a cycle in food intake over the benefit month. Higher real SNAP benefits reduce monthly cyclic food intake among working-age adults. Large changes in SNAP benefits do not eliminate the food intake benefit cycle. Abstract: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest food-assistance program in the United States, providing support for low-income families to purchase food from stores. Previous research has found that adult participants experience a decline in caloric intake at the end of their benefit month. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we exploit the variation in real SNAP benefits between 2007 and 2014 arising from policy changes and inflation over the period to study how real benefits affect the cycle of food intake over the benefit month among working-age adults in SNAP households. We find that greater real benefit levels reduce the SNAP cycle in daily dietary intake, but that larger changes in benefit amounts would be required to eliminate cyclic intake.