Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt. Learn More

Evidence of Impact for Reduced Administrative Burden for SNAP

PRINT

Download PDF

A median recertification interval of 12 months or longer for SNAP is one of the five most effective Implementing a combination of low-burden state policies to increase SNAP participation among children with families, including a 12-month recertification period, simplified income reporting, and online services, is one of the most effective approaches to make sure children get off to a healthy start and thrive, and that promote greater equity in child wellbeing.

Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is associated with improved birth outcomes and reduced household food insecurity in households with children. States have flexibility to adjust SNAP administration, including the administrative burden associated with program participation. Administrative burden refers to the barriers that increase the costs—time, money, and psychological distress—of applying for and maintaining enrollment in any public assistance program.

Implementing a set of policies related to enrollment and recertification is more effective than implementing any one policy alone. Some of the most effective low-burden policies include a recertification interval of 12 months or longer, simplified income reporting, and an online application.

The most rigorous research studies show that reduced administrative burden for SNAP:

IMPACT OF REDUCED ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN FOR SNAP EVIDENCE OF IMPACT

Increases participation rates among eligible households

  • A combination of policies including longer recertification intervals, simplified income reporting, and online applications increased SNAP enrollment by 34 percent
  • Recertification intervals longer than 12 months led to an 11.4 percentage point increase in SNAP participation among households with children, with a slightly higher increase among female-headed households
  • Replacing monthly reporting requirements with simplified reporting was associated with a caseload increase of 4.5%

Visit the Clearinghouse for the comprehensive evidence review on Reduced Administrative Burden for SNAP.

The prenatal period to age 3 is the most sensitive and rapid period of growth for the brain and body. State policy choices have a substantial impact on the wellbeing of infants, toddlers, and their parents, and on promoting equity among children. See the Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap for more information on the most effective policies and strategies states can implement to help children thrive from the start.

Have questions? Please contact us.

Related

Three individuals participate in a panel discussion at the State Policy Academy, with a backdrop featuring "prenatal-to-3 policy" and a child's image.

State Leaders Convene in Nashville for Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center’s State Policy Academy on Early Childhood Governance

Three-day academy brought together state teams and national experts to examine how governance structures can improve outcomes for young children and families. Nashville, Tennessee – The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College
Baby held close to their mother's chest

Effective Early Childhood Governance: Lessons Learned from Governance Change

Governance change does not happen overnight, and states rarely accomplish it alone. Drawing on case studies of five states that consolidated their early childhood systems, a new brief from the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center identifies seven lessons learned, from sustained advocacy to strong, collaborative leadership, that can help state leaders pursue governance change reflecting their own early childhood goals.
Governance change does not happen overnight, and states rarely accomplish it alone. Drawing on case studies of five states that consolidated their early childhood systems, a new brief from the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center identifies seven lessons learned, from sustained advocacy to strong, collaborative leadership, that can help state leaders pursue governance change reflecting their own early childhood goals.
Little girl smiling

Early Childhood Governance Typologies: Patterns in State Governance Across the Nation

State choices in early childhood governance shape whether families can easily find, access, and use the services their children need. A new brief from the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center maps how all 50 states and the District of Columbia organize these systems, identifying three governance typologies (whole child, school readiness, and parents' workforce participation) to help leaders align governance structure with their early childhood goals.
State choices in early childhood governance shape whether families can easily find, access, and use the services their children need. A new brief from the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center maps how all 50 states and the District of Columbia organize these systems, identifying three governance typologies (whole child, school readiness, and parents' workforce participation) to help leaders align governance structure with their early childhood goals.