The Food Stamp Program
For tens of millions of Americans, hunger is a chronic problem with many serious consequences. This is particularly true for children and mothers—hunger impedes healthy growth and development, is a significant predictor of serious health problems, and is associated with behavioral and emotional problems among preschoolers and school-age children. Many senior citizens also grapple with the harmful effects of food insecurity.
One of the nation’s signature programs to help reduce and end hunger in the United States is the Food Stamp Program (FSP), soon to be called the “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program” (SNAP). Over the last 30 years, food stamps have become a crucial support for the neediest Americans, and the lifeline for millions of low-income children. Every month, more than 28 million beneficiaries receive assistance to purchase healthy food. However, this number only represents a fraction of those in need.
The Food Stamp Program and the Nation as a Whole
Paired with unemployment insurance, food stamps are a vital part of America’s front-line defense against recession. They help feed families who fall into poverty due to unemployment or underemployment, provide temporary support until these families can get back on their feet, and quickly get federal support into local communities when times are tough.
The Food Stamp Program not only helps individuals and families in need, it also helps support the economy as a whole. The USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) estimates that each $1 billion of retail demand created by food stamps generates $340 million in farm production, $110 million in farm value-added, and 3,300 farm jobs.
Food stamps are also a vital component of disaster-recovery efforts. When communities are struck by disaster, the Food Stamp Program provides vital emergency food resources and helps stimulate economic and physical recovery.
Challenges the Food Stamp Program Faces
Generally, Food Stamp Program participation rates follow economic cycles: in a strong economy, demand for the program diminishes, while demand increases in times of economic hardship. Even in a sluggish economy, however, it can be difficult to reach families and individuals who could benefit from the Food Stamp Program. Too often, those in need turn to food banks, pantries, and shelters for assistance rather than enrolling in the Food Stamp Program. There are a number of reasons why food insecure people don’t turn more often to food stamps:
Accessibility of the Food Stamp Program
For many people, simply applying for food stamps can be daunting. Food stamp applications can be prohibitively and unnecessarily long, and the application process can require multiple office visits. Additionally, the process to renew eligibility can add a layer of red tape for those who need ongoing assistance. Food Stamp Program offices don’t always offer extended business hours, making it difficult for people to apply for and maintain their benefits.
The Stigma of Food Stamps and Misinformation about the Program
Questions about income limitations, asset tests, and where individuals should go to receive benefits can also keep potential beneficiaries from applying. This is especially true of low-income senior citizens, who often misunderstand eligibility guidelines and end up making difficult choices between buying food or medicine, when food stamps could make their choices easier. According to Hunger in America 2006, only about 36 percent of the low-income households we serve actually participate in the Food Stamp Program despite the likelihood that many of those clients are actually eligible. Overall, about 42 percent of the households we serve who had not applied for food stamps did not do so because they believed they were ineligible or eligible for only a low benefit amount. In addition, studies suggest that large numbers of individuals who would be eligible for the Food Stamp Program do not apply because of the perceived social stigma of using food stamps. Our study confirmed that notion, as 7.4 percent of households we serve did not apply for the program because they associated a social stigma with the Food Stamp Program.
The Food Stamp Program also faces significant legislative and regulatory challenges. Changes to the Food Stamp Program that reduce eligibility or benefits put even more people at risk of hunger. The Food Stamp Program cannot be adequately replaced by food banks and other private charities that are already struggling to meet growing demands. Additionally, local communities facing tough economic circumstances will find it difficult to cover the gap any food stamp eligibility or benefit reductions would create.
Policy Recommendations to Strengthen the Food Stamp Program
To overcome the problems of accessibility, misinformation, and social stigma, as well as other regulatory and administrative challenges that hinder the program, local, state, and federal governments should:
- Improve governmental outreach efforts, especially those focusing on populations underserved by the program (e.g., immigrants, older Americans) who are often unaware of or misinformed about their eligibility. Nonprofit organizations can supplement these efforts by developing innovative access and enrollment programs.
- Improve customer service and accessibility and streamline the application process so that there are as few barriers to participation as possible. Governments should cut red tape, expand office hours, locate offices in sites that are accessible by public transportation or provide transportation vouchers, and focus on improved customer service.
- States should take advantage of all the options they have under federal law to simplify the program, making it easier for low-income households to apply and secure benefits through this cornerstone anti-hunger program.
- Support innovative outreach activities by partnering with food banks to increase enrollment in the program and to better identify barriers to program access.
More Resources
Learn more about the Food Stamp Program at the links below.
Food Stamp Program Fact Sheet