Decisions that matter: State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program policy restrictiveness limits SNAP participation rate

Objective: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offers free benefits to qualifying individuals, but participation varies greatly from state to state. We explore the impact of SNAP administration policies, political factors, and socio-demographic characteristics to explain this variation. Method: We utilize a policy index that aggregates the effect of 10 SNAP administrative policies to evaluate the effects of policies over time on state SNAP participation rates. Results: Less restrictive administrative policies are associated with increases in SNAP participation. Additionally, the unified Democratic control of state government, poverty, and unemployment all increase SNAP participation. Conclusion: Differences in SNAP state participation rates are not spurious. More restrictive administrative policies lower participation. Thus, SNAP policies are not purely “administrative” decisions; they can either work to encourage or discourage participation in the program.