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Data & Research

Resource | Research | Participation Rates Dynamics of Food Stamp Program Participation, 2001-2003

This report provides a comprehensive picture of individuals’ patterns of participation in the Food Stamp Program during 2001-2003, a period of steady caseload growth. Based on data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, the research explores reasons that individuals enter and leave the FSP, how long they stay on the program, whether they return to the program after exiting, and what factors distinguish those who make greater use of the FSP than others. The research also examines whether participation patterns in 2001-2003 changed from patterns in the 1990s.

11/01/2007
Resource | Research | Participation Rates Reaching Those in Need: State Food Stamp Participation Rates in 2005

This report – the latest in an annual series – presents estimates of the percentage of eligible persons, by state, who participated in the Food Stamp Program (FSP) in an average month in fiscal year 2005 and in the 2 previous fiscal years. This report also presents estimates of state participation rates for eligible “working poor” individuals (persons in households with earnings) over the same period. 

10/01/2007
Resource | Research | Participation Characteristics Characteristics of Food Stamp Households: FY 2006

The report draws on data for households participating in the Food Stamp Program under normal rules and thus does not include information about those who received disaster assistance after the Gulf Coast hurricanes in September and October 2005. 

09/01/2007
Resource | Research | Participation Rates Trends in Food Stamp Program Participation Rates: 1999 to 2005

This report is the latest in a series on food stamp participation rates based on the March Current Population Survey, and presents national participation rates for fiscal year 2005.

06/01/2007
Resource | Research | Promoting Healthy Eating Implications of Restricting the Use of Food Stamp Benefits

Because of concerns about poor diet, overweight, and obesity among low-income Americans, there is considerable interest in using federal nutrition assistance programs to promote healthy choices. Some argue that food stamp recipients should be prohibited from using their benefits to buy foods with limited nutritional value (commonly described as “junk” foods). The Food Stamp Act currently places few limits on the use of food stamp benefits, as long as they are used to buy food to eat at home. The idea of restricting the use of food stamp benefits may be appealing on its face. However, upon closer examination, serious concerns emerge regarding the feasibility and rationale for the proposed restriction.

03/01/2007
Resource | Research | Food Security Assessing the Food Security and Diet Quality Impacts of FNS Program Participation

To explore other options for assessing impacts, FNS awarded a contract to provide FNS with new information on: experiences and satisfaction of participants in FNS programs, and impacts of program participation on food security, diet quality, and other indicators of household well-being.

12/30/2005
Resource | Research | Participation Rates Reaching Those in Need: State Food Stamp Participation Rates in 2003

This report is the latest in a series of publications presenting estimates of the percentage of eligible persons, by state, who participate in the Food Stamp Program. The participation rate – a ratio of the number of participants to the number of people eligible for benefits – is an important measure of program performance. 

11/01/2005
Resource | Research | Participation Rates A User's Guide to Measures of Food Stamp Program Participation Rates

FNS and other researchers have used a variety of approaches to calculate food stamp participation rates. While different approaches can look similar in concept, the results – for particular states or for the nation as a whole – can often look quite different. These differences can be confusing for users who seek to describe the success of the Food Stamp Program without becoming experts in statistics and data analysis. This paper provides an overview and comparison of two sets of estimates produced by FNS as indicators of Food Stamp Program performance.

11/01/2005
Resource | Research | Assessing/Improving Operations Evaluation of Food Stamp Research Grants To Improve Access Through New Technology and Partnerships

Low participation rates among low-income people eligible for food stamp benefits have prompted a number of outreach and public education efforts. In 2002, the Food and Nutrition Service awarded $5 million in grants to community-based organizations in 15 States to investigate how to increase participation among people eligible for food stamp benefits. The evaluation of these grants describes the features and outcomes of these 18 projects.

09/01/2005
Resource | Research | Assessing/Improving Operations Making America Stronger: A Profile of the Food Stamp Program

A summary of past research on program operations and outcomes related to the Food Stamp Program.

09/01/2005
Page updated: May 01, 2024