WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) improves household food security, but Federal surveys may overstate the size of that benefit by as much as 50 percent because many participants do not report receiving assistance.
USDA’s Economic Research Service compared survey responses with administrative records from 19 States for 2017 through 2019. The linked records showed that 47.3 percent of SNAP participants incorrectly reported not receiving benefits.
Using survey responses alone suggested SNAP improved food security by 38.4 percent. When researchers included administrative participation records, the estimated improvement fell to 24.4 percent. The program still produced a meaningful gain, but the effect was smaller than survey data indicated.
The findings could change how policymakers measure hunger, poverty, and nutrition program performance. Incomplete participation data may also give an inaccurate picture of the households receiving assistance and the results those benefits produce.
Researchers say combining protected administrative records with Federal surveys can provide more reliable estimates. Better data could improve future program evaluations and help guide food assistance policy.
Farm-Level Takeaway: More accurate SNAP records can improve decisions affecting food access and rural household stability.
