Changes in SNAP Generosity, Food Security, and Nutrition of Children and Adults

Abstract

SNAP serves as a safety net for numerous low-income families in the United States, and policy modifications such as the 2009 ARRA, 2013 benefit cuts, and emergency assistance provided during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the maximum monthly allotments for which households were qualified. In this paper, I explored the impacts of maximum benefits on participation and the SNAP amount received on food security, diet quality, nutrient intake, and hemoglobin/hematocrit levels, for both children and adults. To examine these effects, I utilized National Health and Nutrition Surveys (NHANES) from 2007 to 2018. I conducted multivariate and 2SLS regressions on STATA V17.0 using the maximum benefit a household is eligible as the instrument for the actual SNAP amount received. I found that among children, a $20 increase in maximum benefit was associated with a 0.7 percent increase in participation. A $20 increase in the amount received caused a 2.4 percent increase in food security, 4.9 percent increase in daily sugar intake, 1.7 percent increase in daily protein intake, and 5.3 percent increase in daily vitamin D intake. It also caused a 0.7 percent decrease in raw hematocrit and 19.3 percent increase in likelihood of falling below the normal level. I highlight at the p < 0.05 level, a $20 increase in SNAP led to a 4.1 percent decrease in excessive fat consumption and 11.1 decrease in deficient protein consumption. Finally, I show that in the adult population, a $20 increase in maximum benefit is associated with a 3.8 percent increase in SNAP enrollment. I could not conclude with reasonable certainty, however, that any effect exists on these nutritional outcomes in adults.