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

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

Abstract

As public benefit administrators seek to leverage emerging technologies to enhance the safety net infrastructure, understanding how technology impacts public benefit enrollment is essential. This study estimates the causal effect of implementing online application platforms and related digital technologies on SNAP enrollment. Using state- and county-level administrative data, we employ a Difference-in-Differences framework to analyze the impact of online application rollouts on program access relative to not-yet treated units. At the national level, we find that the availability of online applications results in an increase in enrollment of approximately 3.5 percent. This finding is confirmed and further contextualized by the county-level rollout in California, where we see that applicant uptake was slow, with only about a third of applications received being submitted online in 2019. Furthermore, we find a temporary increase in the application denial rate that goes away after the first year. This research provides crucial insights into the effectiveness of technological solutions for mitigating access barriers and improving the reach of public assistance programs.

Author

• Luis E Basurto, Cornell University
  Presenting Author