Effects of EBT on Program Enrollment: Evidence from a Mountain State

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

Abstract

We use administrative data from a mountain state to explore the effects of transitioning to WIC EBT on participation in WIC. One could imagine that EBT reduces the stigma of continuing to participate in the WIC program/use WIC benefits as well as reducing the transaction costs of recertification. We do this with merged data on enrollment in and recertification timing for certification with data on the rollout of WIC EBT in our state, which was staggered by county. We do so with a regression discontinuity design, where the running variable is time, and the discontinuity occurs when the County of residence transitions to EBT. Our second stage then considers failure to recertify as an outcome. This work contributes to our understanding of take-up and targeting.

Authors

• Marianne Bitler, University of California, Davis
  Non-Presenting Co-Author

• Caitlin Shamoly Dutta, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  Presenting Author

• Seojung Oh, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
  Non-Presenting Co-Author

• Jason B Cook
  Non-Presenting Co-Author