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Data & Research

Resource | Research, Analysis & Background | Participation Characteristics SNAP Community Characteristics

Review your statewide factsheet for information about SNAP participation, food insecurity, and SNAP's economic impact in your state.

06/23/2023
Resource | Research, Analysis & Background | Assessing/Improving Operations How States Safeguard USDA's SNAP Participants' Personally Identifiable Information

All applicants and participants in SNAP are required to submit personally identifiable information for verification before receiving benefits. To better understand the evolving landscape of data security, USDA conducted this study to evaluate how state agencies protect PII of SNAP recipients and compiled best practices for maintaining data security of program.

04/04/2023
Resource | Research | Participation Characteristics Characteristics of SNAP Households: FY 2019

The Characteristics report is published annually, dating back to 1976, and provides information about the demographic and economic circumstances of SNAP households. Using a sample of SNAP Quality Control data that is representative at both the state and national level, this report summarizes the characteristics of households and individuals who participated in SNAP in fiscal year 2019.  Because SNAP is available to most low-income households, participants represent a broad cross section of the Nation's poor. 

03/29/2021
Resource | Research | Assessing/Improving Operations Feasibility Study of Capturing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Purchases at the Point of Sale

This study examined the feasibility of creating a data collection system capable of directly and automatically providing USDA with item-level data on purchases made by SNAP households. Data would be captured at the point of sale from purchases made using EBT cards.

11/18/2016
Resource | Research, Analysis & Background | Nutrition Education Formative Research on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Electronic Media Use in the Child and Adult Care Food Program

This report includes findings from formative research undertaken to help USDA assist child care providers in following the nutrition, physical activity, and electronic media use recommendations outlined in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

03/09/2015
Resource | Research | Demonstrations Solicitation for State Agencies: Summer 2010 Demonstration Projects

These demonstration projects are being conducted under the authority and funding provided by the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010. The Appropriations Act authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to use $85 million to develop and test alternative methods of providing access to food for low-income children in urban and rural areas during the summer months, when schools are not in regular session.

06/16/2011
Resource | Research | SNAP Benefit Use Benefit Redemption Patterns in the SNAP

This study identifies how spending patterns, such as the rate at which households spend their benefit, changed following the ARRA benefit increase and analyzes how spending patterns differed across household characteristics, time and states.

02/01/2011
Resource | Research | Assessing/Improving Operations Feasibility of Wider Implementation of Direct Verification With Medicaid

To ensure program integrity, school districts must sample household applications certified for free or reduced-price meals, contact the households, and verify eligibility. This process (known as household verification) can be burdensome for both school officials and households. Direct verification uses information from certain other means-tested programs to verify eligibility without contacting applicants. Potential benefits include: less burden for households, less work for school officials, and fewer students with school meal benefits terminated because of nonresponse to verification requests.

10/26/2010
Page updated: January 12, 2024