The Role of Technology in the Safety Net: Adoption of Online SNAP Applications

• In Event: Access and Retention in SNAP and WIC: State-Level Patterns and Interventions

Abstract

Despite the significant positive impacts of public benefit programs like SNAP on families with children many eligible families fail to enroll or retain benefits. This study explores the impact that the implementation of online applications and related technologies had on initial enrollment and continued participation in SNAP. We link SNAP administrative data with survey data to examine the impact of staggered online application rollouts across states. We investigate several key outcomes: (1) changes in overall SNAP enrollment and retention rates (2) shifts in the demographic composition of the recipient pool (3) spillovers to other programs like WIC and (4) impacts on program administration such as cost savings and processing times. Preliminary results show that the implementation of these online options is associated with significant increases in take-up. Preliminary results indicate that the adoption of online application options leads to significant increases in program take-up with a discernible learning curve for applicants. This research provides crucial insights into the effectiveness of digital solutions in improving public benefit access and inform policy decisions aimed at enhancing program reach and reducing poverty.

Author

• Luis E Basurto, Cornell University
  Presenting Author