Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Panel: Influences and Effects of Food Assistance Program Participation

(Poverty and Income Policy)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest food assistance program in the United States. As a result of the growing prominence of this social safety net program, there has been increased interest among policymakers about this program. Indeed, concerns over increased spending have resulted in recent cuts to the SNAP program. This panel addresses various factors that influence program participation – including the media, family structure, work requirements, and time and asset limits – as well as some of the effects of program participation on educational and financial investments. The first paper studies how various news and online media outlets have covered SNAP over time, describing changes since the advent of digital platforms and social media. The second paper investigates SNAP and other food assistance program participation across various family structures, identifying the different role food assistance programs may play in contributing to household resources. The third paper studies the unique population of young adults without children, and how SNAP work requirements and time limits affect program participation, in addition to how program participation affects educational investment decisions. Finally, the last paper examines the impact of asset limits on SNAP and other safety net program participation and financial decisions. The papers in this panel contribute to the current debate regarding the size of social safety net programs and policy tools that can be used to influence the program’s generosity.