Improving the Assessment of SNAP Targeting Using Administrative Records

by Erik Scherpf, Constance Newman, and Mark Prell

SNAP provides food and nutrition benefits to low-income households based on a formula that adjusts for monthly need. This study assesses how well SNAP is targeted to low-income households by estimating benefit receipt by household income relative to poverty for the period 2008 to 2012.

Keywords: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), poverty, administrative records, measurement error, benefit targeting

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