ERS Charts of Note
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Many people who meet the eligibility requirements for USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) do not apply to receive program benefits. Elderly Americans, in particular, tend to participate in SNAP at a much lower rate than other age groups. Just over one in three elderly individuals—those age 60 and older—eligible for SNAP participated in the program in fiscal year 2010, compared to about nine out of every ten eligible children, and seven out of ten eligible non-elderly adults. However, estimates from Texas SNAP administrative records linked to the American Community Survey reveal that the elderly are more likely to participate if they live with at least one non-elderly individual, rather than living alone or only with other elderly individuals. In 2009, only 35.9 percent of eligible elderly Texans living alone participated in SNAP, roughly the same rate as those living with other elderly individuals. By contrast, the participation rate among individuals in elderly households with at least one non-elderly member was 53.5 percent. This chart appears in “New Analysis Reveals Significant Within-State Variation in SNAP Participation Rates” in ERS’s December 2013 Amber Waves magazine.
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Monday, December 9, 2013
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and unemployment insurance are two countercyclical assistance programs. In economic downturns, more people become eligible for the programs and participation grows. A recent ERS report found that the poorest SNAP households are the most likely to rely on SNAP alone without unemployment insurance, perhaps because they lack the work histories and sufficient earnings to be eligible for unemployment insurance. In 2009, just 6.7 percent of SNAP households with annual incomes below 50 percent of the poverty line also received unemployment insurance. In comparison, 22.6 percent of SNAP households with incomes between 150 and 199 percent of poverty received unemployment insurance. In 2005 (a full-employment year), 3.6 percent of SNAP households in the lowest income group received unemployment assistance. The statistics for this chart are from the ERS report, Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Unemployment Insurance: How Tight Are the Strands of the Recessionary Safety Net?, November 2013.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
ERS researchers recently examined the quality of Americans’ diets, focusing on the effects of USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on the food choices of low-income American adults. Researchers found SNAP participants’ diets were comparable in most ways to those of non-participants. One area in which SNAP participants did slightly better was sodium consumption: on average, SNAP participants had a lower sodium intake than either low-income non-participants or higher-income individuals. Current Federal nutritional recommendations advise keeping daily sodium intake below 2,300 milligrams, or below 1,500 milligrams for African Americans, people over age 50, and those who have hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease. The predicted difference in daily sodium consumption between SNAP participants and low-income non-participants is 73 milligrams in a 2,000 calorie diet—a little less than the amount found in half of a one-ounce bag of potato chips. Adults with higher incomes were predicted to consume 158 milligrams more of sodium per day than SNAP participants. This chart is from “SNAP Participation and Diet Outcomes” in ERS’s Amber Waves magazine, November 2013.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Unemployment rose sharply during the 2007-09 recession, and households whose members were eligible for unemployment insurance became a larger component of the SNAP caseload, increasing the share of SNAP households that also receive unemployment insurance. A recent ERS study found that an estimated 14.4 percent of SNAP households also received unemployment insurance at some point in 2009—nearly double the estimate of 7.8 percent in 2005 (a full-employment year). SNAP households with a more educated householder (head of household) are more likely to receive support from both programs, as individuals with little schooling are perhaps less likely to have work histories and sufficient earnings to be eligible for unemployment insurance. In 2009, 8.1 percent of SNAP households headed by someone with less than a 9th grade education also received unemployment insurance, and 10.8 percent of SNAP households headed by someone with some high school, but no diploma, received unemployment insurance. For SNAP households with a householder having a high school diploma or higher, the share receiving support from both programs was statistically equivalent at between 14.2 and 16.9 percent. The statistics for this chart are from the ERS report, Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Unemployment Insurance: How Tight Are the Strands of the Recessionary Safety Net?, ERR-157, released on November 7, 2013.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
In May 2013, 47.6 million Americans were participating in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Prior to the 2007-09 recession, an average of 26.5 million people per month in fiscal year (FY) 2006 were receiving SNAP benefits to purchase food in authorized food stores. In addition to this growth in participation, the composition of the SNAP caseload shifted somewhat between children and nonelderly adults, as the economic downturn led more adults to qualify and apply for benefits. In FY 2011 (the latest year for which age-specific data are available), children represented 45.1 percent of all SNAP participants, down from 49.2 percent in FY 2006, while adults age 18-59 accounted for 46.3 percent of participants in FY 2011, up from 42.1 percent in FY 2006. Elderly participants’ share of the SNAP caseload was relatively stable over this period, at 8.5 percent in FY 2011 and 8.7 percent in FY 2006. This chart is found in ERS’s new data product, Ag and Food Statistics: Charting the Essentials, released on September 16, 2013.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Estimates of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation rates—the proportion of eligible individuals who receive SNAP benefits—are regularly published at the State and national level. Estimates of SNAP participation by the elderly, children, or other subpopulations within individual States, however, have not previously been available due to data limitations. ERS researchers overcame these limitations by linking SNAP administrative records to individual records in the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, using Texas as a pilot study. Researchers found significant geographic and demographic differences in SNAP participation within the State. Nationally, participation rates are higher for households with children than for childless households, a pattern also evident in Texas. Overall, Texas households with children were about twice as likely to participate in SNAP as households without children in 2009. The presence of children in a household was associated with significantly higher participation across all household types—households headed by couples, single females, single males, and households composed of multiple unmarried adults. This chart appears in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Access at the State and County Levels, ERR-156, released September 19, 2013.
Friday, August 16, 2013
In 2009, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Congress temporarily increased the maximum benefit levels of USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by 13.6 percent, with the intention that, over time, rising food prices would eliminate the ARRA increase. By 2011, inflation had cut the value of the ARRA increase by about half and the percentage of SNAP-recipient households with very low food security had increased to 13.8 percent from 12.1 percent in 2009. Very low food security is characterized by reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns. Low-income non-SNAP households did not experience worsening food security during this time. ERS analyses of the pre- and post-ARRA periods suggest that future increases in the maximum SNAP benefit of 10 percent would reduce the number of SNAP households with very low food security by about 22 percent, and reducing the maximum benefit by 10 percent would increase that number by about 29 percent. This chart appears in Effects of the Decline in the Real Value of SNAP Benefits from 2009 to 2011, ERR-151, August 2013.
Friday, August 9, 2013
ERS’s SNAP Policy Database contains monthly data on a variety of State-level policies related to USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These data are useful to people interested in factors that affect SNAP caseloads and SNAP’s effect on food spending, diet quality, and other outcomes. SNAP provides eligible, low-income households with monthly benefits to purchase food at authorized foodstores. The program has few nonfinancial eligibility criteria, so it provides benefits to a broad range of low-income households. However, legal noncitizens face restrictions on their SNAP eligibility. Welfare reform legislation in 1996 made most legal noncitizens ineligible for SNAP benefits. Subsequent legislation reinstated the eligibility of some legal noncitizens, such as those who met a 5-year residency requirement, and gave States authority to use their own funds to provide SNAP benefits to legal noncitizens who were barred under Federal law. A handful of States passed laws extending eligibility to all child, adult, or elderly legal noncitizens residing in their States who otherwise meet SNAP requirements. In October 2003, SNAP eligibility was restored to all legal noncitizen children under Federal law. Less than 4 percent of SNAP recipients in 2011 were legal noncitizens. Information for this chart can be found in ERS’s SNAP Policy Database.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
As USDA’s largest food and nutrition assistance program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides a nutritional safety net for millions of low-income children and adults, a role that is especially important when the economy falters and many Americans lose jobs and income. The increase in SNAP participation during 2008-10—a period of rising unemployment—was the largest participation increase since the current program began in the early 1960s, but the unemployment rate hike was the largest since that time as well. At a time when the unemployment rate increased from 4.5 percent in 2007 to 9.8 percent in 2010, the number of Americans receiving SNAP benefits grew from an average of 26.3 million in 2007 to 40.3 million in 2010. However, when the increase in SNAP participants is adjusted for the increase in the unemployment rate, the caseload increased by 2.7 million participants per 1-percentage-point increase in the unemployment rate, which is similar to the previous two economic declines. The statistics for this chart are from the ERS publication, How Economic Conditions Affect Participation in USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
In March 2013, close to 48 million Americans participated in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—a program designed to increase the purchasing power of low-income people by providing them with monthly benefits to purchase food. Changes in SNAP caseloads during periods of economic decline and growth are not driven solely by changes in the number of people who are eligible for the program, but also by changes in the participation rate, or percent of eligible people who choose to participate. Since 1980, between 48 and 75 percent of the people who met SNAP eligibility requirements enrolled in the program. Changes in program policies can affect the participation rate. For example, expanded outreach and simplification of the application process pull more eligible people into SNAP. Economic conditions can also affect participation rates, with periods of economic decline generally boosting the participation rate. This chart appears in the ERS report, How Economic Conditions Affect Participation in USDA Nutrition Assistance Programs, EIB-100.
Friday, June 21, 2013
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest of USDA’s 15 nutrition assistance programs, providing monthly benefits for purchasing food to those who apply for the program and meet the income and other eligibility criteria. In fiscal year 2012, 46.6 million Americans were enrolled in the program during an average month. ERS’s SNAP Policy Database provides monthly (January 1996-December 2011) information on policies in the 50 States and the District of Columbia that may influence SNAP participation. For example, online applications allow individuals to complete and submit an application for SNAP benefits over the Internet. Applicants then undergo an interview at the SNAP office or over the phone to complete the application process. In many States with online applications, the applicant is allowed to submit the application with an electronic or “e-signature,” instead of mailing a supplemental form with an actual signature. Online applications first became available in January 2002 and were available in 34 States by December 2011. Twenty-four of these 34 States also allowed applicants to submit an e-signature. The State-level information contained in the database can facilitate research on factors that influence SNAP participation and on SNAP's effects on a variety of outcomes, such as food spending and health. The information for this chart can be found in ERS’s SNAP Policy Database.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides eligible low-income households with monthly benefits to purchase food. One goal of the program is to support low-income families in making food choices consistent with dietary guidance. ERS researchers recently examined how the program affects the diets of participants. One finding that stands out is that SNAP increases the likelihood that participants will consume whole fruit by over 23 percentage points. Before participants enroll in SNAP, they rarely ever eat whole fruit on a given day. After they enroll in the program, SNAP participants have a 25-percent probability of eating whole fruit. Low-income individuals who are not participating in SNAP have a 53-percent probability and high-income individuals a 66-percent probability of eating whole fruit on a given day. This chart is based on statistics in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participation Leads to Modest Changes in Diet Quality, ERR-147, released April 24, 2013.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
In fiscal year 2012, an average of 46.6 million people per month participated in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP provided benefits averaging $133 per person per month to purchase food items in authorized food stores. Federal spending for the program totaled $78.3 billion in 2012, a 3-percent increase from 2011. The number of people receiving SNAP benefits is the smallest percentage increase (4 percent) since 2007. Historically, changes in U.S. economic conditions significantly affected participation in SNAP, with participation rising during economic downturns and falling during periods of economic growth. While the unemployment rate averaged 8.1 percent in 2012, down from 8.9 percent in 2011, the need for food and nutrition assistance continued. This chart appears in The Food Assistance Landscape, FY 2012 Annual Report released March 15, 2013.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
On an average day during 2006-08, Americans age 18 and older participating in USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) spent 54 minutes in primary eating and drinking, that is, eating and drinking as a main activity. Those who were income-eligible but not receiving SNAP benefits spent 61 minutes in primary eating and drinking, and those with higher incomes spent 70 minutes. About 14 percent of the population shops for groceries on an average day. Of those who shopped on the survey day, SNAP individuals spent an average of 54 minutes shopping--more time than the other two groups. Sixty-four percent of SNAP individuals engaged in meal preparation and cleanup on an average day, spending 75 minutes on this task compared to 58 minutes by higher-income individuals. This longer grocery shopping and meal prep time may be because SNAP individuals spend a larger share of their meal time at home, and they may stretch their food dollars by cooking more dishes from scratch. The data for this chart come from How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food?, EIB-86, November 2011.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
In 2011, nearly one in seven Americans (14.3 percent of the total population) lived in a household that received food assistance benefits from USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This represents a 3.4 percentage point increase from 2009 when 10.9 percent of Americans were receiving SNAP benefits. The rate of increase varied by State with 10 States, plus the District of Columbia, showing percentage point increases above 4.5 and 8 States with increases below 2.5. A combination of economic and policy factors account for differences among the States. All of the States with the slowest growth in SNAP caseloads had unemployment rates in May 2011 below the national average, and only two of them had enacted policies to expand program eligibility. In contrast, 8 of the 11 jurisdictions with the fastest growing SNAP caseloads had unemployment rates above the national average and all 11 had adopted policies raising SNAP income and/or asset eligibility cutoffs for many households. This chart is one of the new maps in ERS's Food Environment Atlas, updated on June 29, 2012. For more information on SNAP and other nutrition programs, visit the Food and Nutrition Assistance topic page on the ERS website.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the cornerstone of USDA's nutrition assistance programs. The program accounted for 73 percent of all Federal food and nutrition spending in fiscal 2011, serving an average of 44.7 million people per month, or about 14 percent of Americans. The percent of the population receiving SNAP benefits to purchase food varies across States reflecting differences in need, as well as differences in program policies. The Southeast stands out as a region where all States have a high percent of residents receiving SNAP benefits, with participation rates of 16 to 21 percent. In 2011, 6.4 percent of Wyoming's population received SNAP benefits-the only State with less than 8 percent of the population receiving SNAP benefits. In 2009, there were 12 States with less than 8 percent of their populations participating in SNAP. This chart is one of the new maps in ERS's Food Environment Atlas, updated on June 29, 2012.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The poverty rate for children grew from 17.4 percent in 2006 to 20.7 percent in 2009, as many families' incomes fell during the 2007-09 recession. Official poverty estimates do not include non-cash assistance, such as benefits from USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as income. A recent ERS study found that including SNAP benefits in family income would have lowered the poverty rate for children to 18.7 percent in 2009. SNAP benefits also ensured that the severity of child poverty increased only slightly from 2006 to 2009 despite worsening economic conditions. Severity of poverty was measured using an index that reflects the square of the poverty gap, defined as the average distance of poor families' incomes below the poverty threshold. Without SNAP, the severity measure would have increased from 5.5 in 2006 to 6.8 in 2009, an increase of almost 24 percent. With SNAP benefits, severity rose by only 11 percent. This chart appeared in "SNAP Benefits Alleviate the Incidence and Intensity of Poverty" in the June 2012 issue of ERS's Amber Waves magazine.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
In fiscal year 2011, an average of 44.7 million people per month participated in USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The progressive structure of SNAP-in which eligible families with lower incomes receive larger benefits than similarly-sized eligible families with higher incomes-results in the poorest households receiving the largest benefits. This targeting of benefits is reflected in a recent ERS analysis, which found that SNAP had a greater impact of the depth and severity of poverty than on the poverty rate itself. SNAP was particularly successful in lessening poverty among children-a group that experiences higher rates of poverty than the total population. This chart appeared in "SNAP Benefits Alleviate the Incidence and Intensity of Poverty" in the June 2012 issue of ERS's Amber Waves magazine.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
A recent ERS analysis found that USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has a relatively stronger effect on the depth and severity of poverty than on the poverty rate, or prevalence of poverty. SNAP benefits have a particularly strong alleviative effect on poverty among children, who experience significantly higher rates of poverty than the overall population. The official poverty rate for children in 2009 was 20.7 percent, compared to 14.3 percent overall. Official poverty rates, as calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau, do not include non-cash assistance, such as SNAP benefits, as income. When SNAP benefits are added to family income, the 2009 child poverty rate is lowered to 18.7 percent, and the depth of child poverty declines by an average of 15.5 percent over 2000-09 and severity by 21.3 percent. SNAP's antipoverty effect peaked in 2009, when benefit increases were authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This chart appears in Alleviating Poverty in the United States: The Critical Role of SNAP Benefits, ERR-132, released April 9, 2012.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Historically, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are adjusted each October to maintain purchasing power based on food prices for the previous June. These benefit adjustments have been put on hold since April 2009, when Congress enacted a temporary 13.6 percent increase in the maximum SNAP benefit, or about $80 a month for a family of four. Households with little or no income receive the maximum; others receive less based on their incomes and expenses. On average, SNAP households saw a $46 increase in their monthly benefits. By design, the benefit increases were intended to be phased out as rising food prices erode their purchasing power. As of June 2011, the maximum benefit for a four-person household had declined by 4.5 percent ($30) in real (inflation-adjusted) terms from its April 2009 level and that of the average household by 8.1 percent ($25). This chart appeared in "What's Behind the Rise in SNAP Participation?" in the March 2012 issue of ERS's Amber Waves magazine.