At a Glance

Funder:

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

Project Time Frame:

2009-2013

Reaching the Underserved Elderly and Working Adults in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Low participation rates for low-income elderly and working adults in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, have been a persistent concern. Recent estimates suggest that fewer than one-third of eligible elderly, and fewer than three-fifths of people in eligible households with someone working, participate in the program.

Responding to a congressional mandate, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, is funding demonstration programs in six states that focus on increasing SNAP access to either of these two target populations. Grantees will identify pilot sites where they will attempt to remove participation barriers affecting one of the target groups and recommend comparison sites.

Mathematica's evaluation of the demonstrations will use a double-difference design to assess the extent to which the demonstrations increase SNAP applications and participation in the program by the target populations. It will also look at effects on program costs. Data for the analysis will be obtained from state administrative case records and expense reports before, during, and after implementation of the demonstrations.

Through a detailed implementation study, the evaluation will shed light on reasons for grantee successes and challenges and provide useful information for states interested in replicating the demonstrations. Data for the implementation study will be obtained through site visits and telephone interviews with program administrators in demonstration and comparison sites.