Study: Emergency Allotments in SNAP and Food Hardship Among Households With Children. Image Credit: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com

Question:  Were emergency allotments in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) associated with a change in the risk of food hardship among households with children?

In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers determine how emergency allotment of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) impacts food insecurity in families with children.

How does SNAP benefit families?

Food insecurity is a grave public health concern in the United States that impacts adults and children by increasing the risk of poor physical health, anxiety, stress, and despair. Minority ethnic and racial groups, particularly those with children, are at the greatest risk of food insecurity. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the U.S. government executed emergency allotments under SNAP to provide low-income families with additional food purchase assistance.

Previous studies have shown that SNAP membership reduces poverty and food insecurity, particularly in households with children, while improving their mental and physical health. However, there remains a lack of data on the relationship between emergency SNAP allotments and food hardship in SNAP-participating families with children.

About the study

In the present study, researchers investigate whether temporary emergency allotments in SNAP were related to changes in the risk of food hardship among U.S. households with children.

To this end, researchers analyzed National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) data using the difference-in-differences (DID) method to compare the likelihood of food insecurity before implementing emergency SNAP allotments between 2016 and 2019 as compared to during allotment from 2020 to 2022. Parents or caregivers completed NSCH surveys online or on paper in Spanish or English between June and January each year.

Families with children and household incomes of less than or equal to 130% of the U.S. federal poverty level (FPL) were invited to participate in the study. The primary study outcome was parent or caregiver documentation of food hardship in their households the previous year.

Log-binomial regressions determined the risk ratios (RR) for the analysis and adjusted for household financial aid from the government in the previous year, as well as household adult job status and income. Researchers also adjusted for time-varying statewide economic policies, including minimum wage, Medicaid expansion, refundable Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) rates, and the maximal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefit for three-member households.

Sensitivity analyses adjusted for state implementation of broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) policies extending SNAP eligibility by increasing income thresholds from 130% to less than or equal to 200% of the FPL and excluding asset assessment for eligibility. Very low to low food insufficiency was used as the outcome among households that often or sometimes could not afford food the previous year.

Study findings

Among 44,753 families earning less than or equal to 130% of the U.S. FPL, 23%, 57%, and 20% housed black, white, and children from other races, respectively. Among participating households, children among 38% of households were Hispanic, and 32% of families were aged up to five years.

In new @JAMANetworkOpen research, we found that emergency allotments in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (ie, higher monthly benefits) were associated decreased food hardship among households with children, though there were differences by race and ethnicity. https://t.co/tIxdZnIiea

— Anna Austin (@AnnaEAustin) August 17, 2024

The proportion of families suffering from food insecurity declined from 63% in 2016 to 48% in 2021 among SNAP participants and 44% to 39% among income-eligible non-participants, respectively. However, the percentage increased to 58% in SNAP-participating families and 48% among non-participating households in 2022.

Emergency allotment in the SNAP program was related to reduced risks of food insecurity in SNAP-participating families as compared to non-participating families with an RR of 0.9. The emergency allotments were associated with a reduced risk of food insecurity in SNAP-participating families with White and Hispanic children as compared to non-participating families. However, this beneficial effect was not observed in families housing Black children. The sensitivity analyses yielded similar results.

SNAP-eligible families were provided more government cash assistance, had more non-employed adults, earned up to 65% of the FPL, and had more Black children. Black children were disproportionately represented among families with lower earnings than those with White children.

Conclusions

Emergency allotment implementation in SNAP reduced the risk of food insecurity in households with children participating in SNAP. These findings emphasize the pivotal role of SNAP in mitigating food hardship, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further research is needed to determine the impact of terminating emergency allotment in SNAP and whether a minimum monthly SNAP benefit of at least $95 affects food hardship risk.

Findings Show Policy Matters: “In this cross-sectional study of 44 753 households with incomes 130% or less of the federal poverty level and with children younger than 18 years, implementing emergency allotments in SNAP was associated with a decreased risk of food hardship among… https://t.co/QkSMwB67R2

— National Pediatric Disaster Coalition (NPDC) (@npdcoalition) August 19, 2024