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Resource | Research and Data | Benefit Content/Cost WIC Nutrition Services and Administration Cost Study

The WIC Nutrition Services and Administration cost study examines how program funds are expended by state and local agencies to support the management and operation of WIC. The study analyzed data from a national survey of state and local agencies, cases studies, and FY 2013 WIC administrative data.

11/27/2017
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Examination of the Effect of SNAP Benefit and Eligibility Parameters on Low-Income Households

This study examines how the policies that determine benefit levels for the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program compare to current low-income spending patterns by analyzing the expenditures of low-income households across the United States in 2013 and 2014.

10/27/2017
Resource | Research and Data | Payment Accuracy and Program Integrity The Extent of Trafficking in the SNAP: 2012–2014

Trafficking of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits occurs when SNAP recipients sell their benefits for cash to food retailers, often at a discount. Although trafficking does not increase costs to the federal government, it is a diversion of program benefits from their intended purpose of helping low-income families access a nutritious diet. This report, the latest in a series of periodic analyses, provides estimates of the extent of trafficking during the period 2012 through 2014.

09/22/2017
Resource | Research and Data Direct Certification in the National School Lunch Program: State Implementation Progress, SY 2012–13: Report to Congress

This report responds to the requirement of PL 110-246 to assess the effectiveness of state and local efforts to directly certify children for free school meals. Direct certification is a process conducted by the states and by local educational agencies to certify eligible children for free meals without the need for household applications.

12/05/2013
Resource | Research and Data | Demonstrations Healthy Incentives Pilot Interim Report

The Healthy Incentive Pilot (HIP) is being evaluated using a rigorous research design. The overall goal of the evaluation is to assess the impact of HIP on participants’ intake of fruits and vegetables. 

07/01/2013
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Nutrition Assistance in Farmers Markets: Understanding Current Operations

This study describes how farmers markets and direct marketing farmers operate and their perceived benefits and barriers to accepting SNAP.

04/01/2013
Resource | Research and Data | Food Security SNAP: Examining the Evidence to Define Benefit Adequacy

The purpose of this study was to examine how to define “adequacy” of SNAP allotments objectively in the context of program goals to reduce hunger and improve access to a healthy diet, existing data sources that could inform an assessment of the adequacy of existing and potential alternative SNAP allotments, and new data requirements to strengthen the evidence-base and allow for further rigorous analyses. 

01/01/2013
Page updated: September 16, 2025