Skip to main content
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 | Policy FY 18 SNAP QC Tolerance Level

SNAP’s QC system uses a tolerance level to set the threshold for determining which errors are included in the national payment error rate calculation. For FY 2018, the tolerance threshold will be $37.

08/28/2017
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations Methods to Standardize State Standard Utility Allowances

This study develops standard methodologies that might be used to construct standard utility allowances, which are used by States as part of the SNAP eligibility and benefit determination.

08/04/2017
Resource | Policy SNAP FY 2016 Payment Error Rate

The purpose of this memo is to inform you that USDA will not release a SNAP national payment error rate for FY 2016.

06/30/2017
Resource | Research and Data | Participation Rates Trends in SNAP Participation Rates: FY 2010-2015

This report is the latest in a series on SNAP participation rates, which estimate the proportion of people eligible for benefits under federal income and asset rules who actually participate in the program. This report presents estimates of participation rates for FY 2015, comparing them to estimates of participation rates for FYs 2010 through 2014.

06/30/2017
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations CACFP Assessment of Sponsor Tiering Determinations - 2015

This report provides the 2015 national estimate of incorrect payments for the meal reimbursements. The assessment calculates both overpayments and underpayments for FDCHs that earn either Tier 1 (higher) or Tier II (lower) reimbursements depending on the location and circumstances of the child care provider or the participating children.

06/08/2017
Resource | Guidance Documents Clarification on the three ways initial SNAP application processing timeliness is measured

The memorandum that follows is intended to clarify the three ways in which FNS measures timeliness of initial SNAP application processing.  This memorandum does not represent new policy, but seeks to clarify the three existing data collection and monitoring procedures.

06/02/2017
Resource | Research and Data | Assessing/Improving Operations WIC Vendor Peer Group Study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of state agencies current peer group systems, and to provide guidance to state agencies on how to evaluate and update their systems. Specifically, it uses empirical analysis to identify one or more effective models for establishing vendor peer groups that could apply to most state agencies.

05/31/2017
Page updated: October 14, 2021