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Data & Research

Resource | Research, Analysis & Background | Assessing/Improving Operations Best Practices in USDA Disaster SNAP Operations and Planning

Through an examination of 5 disasters in 4 states, this study develops recommendations for best practices in planning for, implementing, and operating D-SNAP. 

12/14/2023
Resource | Research, Analysis & Background | Impacts/Evaluations Evaluation of Technology Modernization for SNAP Benefit Redemption Through Online Transactions

​This study evaluated the implications of online SNAP benefit redemption on program integrity. In addition, the study gathered basic information about online benefit redemption, including the use in urban and rural settings.

09/26/2023
Resource | Research, Analysis & Background | Benefit Content/Cost Analysis of Robotic Process Automation in SNAP: Three Case Studies

​This study examines the use of robotic process automation technologies by three state agencies—Georgia, New Mexico, and Connecticut—to administer SNAP.

09/20/2023
Resource | Research, Analysis & Background | Food Security Reaching Those in Need: Estimates of State SNAP Participation Rates in 2020

​This report—part of an annual series—presents estimates of the percentage of eligible persons, by state, who participated in USDA's SNAP during an average month in fiscal year 2020 and in the two previous fiscal years. Because the Coronavirus COVID-19 public health emergency affected data collection starting in March 2020, this summary covers only the pre-pandemic period of October 2019 through February 2020. Thus, this report presents rates only for all eligible persons during the pre-pandemic months of FY 2020.

08/15/2023
Resource | Research, Analysis & Background | Assessing/Improving Operations Child Nutrition Program Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March Through September 2020

This data collection fulfills states’ reporting requirements and describes trends in program participation during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is part of an ongoing study series examining CN program operations, repurposed to collect waiver reports from all states.

05/23/2023
Resource | Research | Program Access SNAP Program Access Index

The Program Access Index  is one of the measures FNS uses to reward states for high performance in the administration of SNAP. Performance awards were authorized by the 2022 Farm Bill. The PAI is designed to indicate the degree to which low-income people have access to SNAP benefits. The purpose of this step-by-step guide is to describe the calculation of the PAI in detail. It includes all of the data, adjustments, and calculations used in determining the PAI for every state.

05/10/2023
Resource | Research, Analysis & Background | Assessing/Improving Operations Modernizing Channels of Communication with USDA SNAP Participants

This study evaluated emerging mobile communication strategies (MCS) technology, both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary purpose of this study was to better understand the existing landscape of MCS technology, and highlight best practices and lessons learned for from the use of MCS programs by SNAP state agencies.

04/06/2023
Resource | Research, Analysis & Background | Assessing/Improving Operations USDA Literature Review on Wage Subsidies and Work-Based Learning for SNAP

​This study describes the wage subsidy and work-based learning models that aid in improving employment outcomes, the extent to which these models promote strong connections between government programs and employers, and the implications of previous findings on how to best implement wage subsidy and work-based learning programs within the SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program.

02/21/2023
Resource | Research, Analysis & Background | Participation Characteristics Reaching Those in Need: Estimates of USDA's SNAP Program Participation Rates in 2019

​This report presents estimates of the percentage of eligible persons, by state, who participated in SNAP during an average month in FY 2019 and in the two previous fiscal years. SNAP eligibility criteria include maximum income and resource thresholds, as well as certain nonfinancial criteria, such as age and disability status.

02/14/2023
Resource | Research | Assessing/Improving Operations Considerations for Improving Participant Experiences in the USDA SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) Programs: Lessons from the SNAP E&T Pilots

Section 4022 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 authorized and funded the SNAP employment and training pilots and the evaluation. The four issue briefs present findings drawn from the evaluation of the 10 pilots. 

12/01/2022
Page updated: January 12, 2024