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SNAP Program Access Index

Resource type
Research and Data
Program Data
Resource Materials
PDF Icon PAI 2023 (190.42 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2022 (158.29 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2021 (156.20 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2019 (64.13 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2018 (64.14 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2017 (21.53 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2016 (396.72 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2015 (186.46 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2014 (110.18 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2013 (165.01 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2012 (666.02 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2011 (197.63 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2010 (112.41 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2009 (64.96 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2008 (72.31 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2007 (62.04 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2006 (57.91 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2005 (63.08 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2004 (59.60 KB)
PDF Icon PAI 2003 (57.77 KB)

The Program Access Index (PAI) is designed to indicate the degree to which low-income people have access to SNAP benefits. The PAI is not, strictly speaking, a measure of participation among people eligible for SNAP benefits. It is a simple index of the average monthly number of SNAP participants (excluding disaster assistance recipients) over the course of a calendar year to the number of people with income below 125 percent of the official poverty line in each state.

States may have a PAI above 1.0 because the 125 percent poverty estimate does not fully capture all people eligible for SNAP. The SNAP gross income limit is 130 percent of poverty, and it is higher in some states. Additionally, households with members who are elderly or have a disability may be eligible for SNAP with gross incomes above 130 percent of poverty.

SNAP Program Access Index 20231

State2023 PAI2023 PAI Rank2022 PAIImprovementImprovement Rank
Alabama0.771280.7520.018625
Alaska0.562430.719-0.157151
Arizona0.776270.7230.052810
Arkansas0.391500.403-0.011237
California0.890140.7840.10662
Colorado0.835240.7790.05628
Connecticut0.856200.8360.020824
Delaware0.939100.954-0.015339
District of Columbia1.32011.372-0.051546
Florida0.855210.7790.07543
Georgia0.793260.904-0.110750
Hawaii0.885160.8780.007031
Idaho0.482470.4440.038217
Illinois1.11941.0650.05369
Indiana0.565420.565-0.000634
Iowa0.573410.617-0.043545
Kansas0.442480.4370.004932
Kentucky0.601370.5940.007330
Louisiana0.852230.7830.06884
Maine0.893120.8850.008128
Maryland0.93990.954-0.015540
Massachusetts1.23321.1820.051512
Michigan0.873180.8130.06056
Minnesota0.673330.6390.034318
Mississippi0.587400.5790.007629
Missouri0.685310.6380.047213
Montana0.496460.516-0.020542
Nebraska0.588390.5500.038216
Nevada0.99570.8820.11311
New Hampshire0.599380.5340.06455
New Jersey0.683320.738-0.055047
New Mexico0.99081.067-0.077549
New York0.853220.8270.025721
North Carolina0.881170.890-0.008436
North Dakota0.506450.4470.05907
Ohio0.724300.758-0.033544
Oklahoma0.862190.8400.021622
Oregon1.12531.1240.001033
Pennsylvania1.00550.9660.038315
Rhode Island1.00260.9720.029919
South Carolina0.655340.671-0.015841
South Dakota0.549440.5280.021223
Tennessee0.601360.678-0.076648
Texas0.619350.652-0.032743
Utah0.407490.423-0.015238
Vermont0.892130.8390.052411
Virginia0.759290.7120.047114
Washington0.899110.899-0.000635
West Virginia0.818250.7910.026620
Wisconsin0.889150.8720.017226
Wyoming0.356510.3460.009927

 

 2023 PAI 2022 PAIImprovementImprovement Rank
US Total0.800 0.7790.020348

1States may have a PAI above 1.0 because some households with income above 125 percent of poverty are eligible for SNAP. The SNAP gross income limit is 130 percent of poverty, and some States use a higher income limit.

Page updated: October 22, 2024