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Open (Posted) Date
Closed Date
Funding Opportunity #
USDA-FNS-SNAP-2021
More Information Grants.gov Link
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=331439

FY 2021 SNAP Longitudinal Data

SNAP Longitudinal Data Project: At a Glance

Section 17(n) of the Act allows states the option to participate in the SNAP LDP. Specifically, the SNAP LDP aims to enable research on participation in and the operation of SNAP; including participation in the program over time (duration) and across state lines. Key aspects of Section 17(n) of the Act include:

  • Setting aside $20 million in grant funding, available through fiscal year (FY) 2021. This funding is for state agencies interested in establishing longitudinal research databases with eligibility, benefit, and demographic information about SNAP households and individual members. Additionally, $5 million is available in grant funding for each FY thereafter;
  • Requiring unique identifiers to protect individual privacy and to enable comparison of participation data across states and over time;
  • Requesting SNAP data elements from states including: demographic characteristics, income and financial resources, employment status, household circumstances, and monthly allotment amounts; and
  • Requesting data from other state sources, including earning and employment data, health insurance program data, and participation in other state programs.

For more information, please reference the FNS SNAP LDP – Parameters for Participation (PFP) by Interested States (Longitudinal Data Project (LDP).

FY 21 Awards

On Aug. 12, 2021, USDA awarded approximately $18 million in SNAP Longitudinal Data Project (LDP) grants. These grants will support and enable research on SNAP participation. This includes participation in the program over time and across state lines. The key SNAP LDP objectives are to allow for secure sharing of chosen data elements; improving data standardization and creating shared data definitions; improving the evaluation of SNAP data across state lines; and enabling SNAP longitudinal research.

The state agencies will conduct a variety of projects aimed at meeting the objectives such as improving data management processes, improving data standardizations, developing cross-agency sharing agreements, building or procuring state-level longitudinal, databases, and submitting research proposals. All state agencies will participate in data sharing agreements with the Census Bureau and FNS in order to create a longitudinal research database.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) awarded the SNAP LDP Grants to support 11 state agency projects:

  • Georgia Department of Human Services' Division of Family & Children Services and Georgia State University's Child & Family Policy Lab and Georgia Health Policy Center
  • New Jersey Department of Human Services/Division of Family Development
  • Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS)
  • Colorado Department of Human Services
  • Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) State of Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services
  • Maryland Department of Human Services (MD DHS) and The Family Welfare Research and Training Group (FWG) at the University of Maryland School of Social Work
  • Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
  • Arkansas Department of Human Services
  • Arizona Department of Economic Security Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility
  • Department of Human Services (DHS) at the State of Hawaii
  • Kansas Department for Children and Families
Page updated: October 27, 2023