Effects of the CAP system on SSI recipients: Program participation and food security

• In Event: How State Policy Shapes Safety Net Access and Well-Being for People with Disabilities

Abstract

This study estimates SNAP participation and food security outcomes for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients in states with the Combined Application Project (CAP) system. CAP allows SSI applicants to apply for SNAP at Social Security Administration (SSA) offices without a separate visit to a SNAP office, reducing the administrative burden of accessing food assistance. As of 2026, 17 states operate CAP under two models — Standard and Modified — following South Carolina's initial adoption in 1995.People with disabilities, including SSI recipients, face disproportionately high rates of food insecurity and significant barriers to accessing nutrition assistance programs. Administrative complexity, documentation requirements, and the need to navigate multiple agencies are among the key obstacles that limit program take-up in this population. CAP was designed to address some of these barriers by streamlining the joint application process, but its effectiveness has not been comprehensively evaluated across states and over time.Using the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS-FSS) and Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS-ASEC) from 2001 to 2024, we examine whether SSI recipients in CAP states are more likely to participate in SNAP and achieve better food security outcomes than their counterparts in non-CAP states. This analysis presents a methodological challenge: the CPS-FSS lacks Social Security Administration disability program identifiers, while the CPS-ASEC lacks food security data. To address this, we first apply machine learning to identify likely SSI recipients in the CPS-FSS based on the demographic characteristics of confirmed SSI recipients in the CPS-ASEC. We then use a difference-in-differences design to estimate the causal effect of CAP adoption on SNAP participation and food security outcomes over time.This study contributes to a growing body of research on administrative burden and benefit access among people with disabilities. Findings will inform SSA about the effectiveness of its coordinated application process with USDA and identify opportunities to strengthen program linkages that support food security and well-being among SSI recipients.

Author

• Hyun Ju Kim, University of New Hampshire
  Presenting Author