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Resource | Research Reports Alternative Approaches to Reevaluating the Thrifty Food Plan

This report explores different approaches to reevaluating the Thrifty Food Plan, which represents a low-cost, nutritious diet comprised of foods and beverages consumed at home and is used to calculate SNAP benefit amounts. 

12/09/2024
Resource | Research and Data SNAP Language Access Study

These studies examine the policies and procedures in SNAP and the three NAP programs. The first report includes results of a survey of states regarding language access and procedures. The second is a report on case-studies of the give in-depth details of language access policies in four states. The final report examines the language access policies in the NAP programs in American Samoa, The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico. 

10/30/2024
Resource | Research and Data Trends in USDA SNAP Participation Rates: FY 2020 and 2022

This report is the latest in a series on national SNAP participation rates, which estimate the proportion of people eligible for benefits under federal income and asset rules to those who actually participate in the program. This report presents rates for fiscal year 2022 and re-estimated rates for pre-pandemic FY 2020 using new weights released by the Census Bureau for the 2020 Census.

10/17/2024
Resource | Research and Data Statewide Thrifty Food Plan Cost Estimate for Hawaii - 2024

The Statewide Thrifty Food Plan Cost Estimate for Hawaii report describes the process used to calculate a new Thrifty Food Plan cost estimate for Hawaii that is based on the best currently available food price data from throughout the state of Hawaii in alignment with the proposed rule. This report uses the same peer-reviewed methodology as the Thrifty Food Plan Cost Estimates for Alaska and Hawaii report, published by FNS in 2023.

10/10/2024
Resource | Research and Data | General/Other National- and State-Level Estimates of WIC Eligibility and Program Reach in 2022

This report, the latest in a series of annual reports on WIC eligibility, presents 2022 national and state estimates of the number of people eligible for WIC benefits and the percents of the eligible population and the US population covered by the program, including estimates by participant category.

08/08/2024
Resource | Research and Data FY 2023 Reported SNAP Application Processing Timeliness

Fiscal year 2023 SNAP reported application processing timeliness rates. 

07/31/2024
Resource | Research and Data | Participation Characteristics Characteristics of SNAP Households - FY 22

This report uses SNAP Quality Control data to describe the demographic and economic circumstances of households and individuals who participated in SNAP in fiscal year 2022.
 

06/05/2024
Resource | Research and Data | Participation Characteristics WIC Participant and Program Characteristics 2022

Since 1988, FNS has produced biennial reports on WIC participant and program characteristics for program monitoring and managing WIC information needs. The 2022 report summarizes demographic, income, and health-related characteristics of participants with active certifications in April 2022.
 

02/20/2024
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
Page updated: September 16, 2025