城市研究所-到2020年，SNAP福利在多大程度上还不能覆盖一顿饭的成本？（英）-2021.7-14页_275kb

Summary of "How Far Did SNAP Benefits Fall Short of Covering the Cost of a Meal in 2020?"

Core Content

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the primary federal food assistance program in the United States, aiming to reduce food insecurity by supplementing low-income households' food budgets. In fiscal year 2020, nearly 40 million people received approximately $74 billion in SNAP benefits. However, the program's benefit levels are based on the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), which does not account for geographic variations in food prices, leading to significant shortfalls in many areas.

Main Findings

• SNAP benefits fall short in covering the cost of a modestly priced meal in 96% of US counties (3,020 out of 3,142) in 2020.
• The average meal cost for food-secure households with incomes below the federal poverty level is $2.41, which is 22% higher than the maximum SNAP benefit of $1.97.
• A 15% increase in the maximum SNAP benefit, implemented during the pandemic, reduces the number of counties with a meal cost gap to 1,271, a 60% decrease.
• Even with the increase, 40.5% of counties still experience a gap, with an average shortfall of $0.13 per meal.
• Leelanau County, Michigan, has the largest gap at $3.90 per meal, and urban areas such as New York County and San Francisco County also show large shortfalls.

Key Information

SNAP Benefit Calculation

• SNAP benefits are calculated based on the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), which is a "minimal-cost" nutritionally adequate food plan.
• The TFP is adjusted annually for national food prices but not for local price variations.
• Zero net income households (nearly 4 in 10 SNAP households) rely entirely on SNAP benefits for food purchases.
• The maximum benefit for a household is calculated by subtracting 30% of net income from the TFP value.

Geographic Price Variations

• Food prices vary significantly across the US, with higher prices in the West and East compared to the South and Midwest.
• Rural counties also experience higher food prices than commonly believed.
• The Thrifty Food Plan does not reflect local price differences, meaning SNAP benefits may not be sufficient in areas with higher food costs.

Impact of SNAP on Food Insecurity

• SNAP is effectively reducing food insecurity, but participants still face higher rates than those who are income-eligible but not enrolled.
• Food insecurity is linked to poor health outcomes, including higher rates of asthma and hospitalization among children, and chronic disease in adults.
• The primary goal of SNAP is to alleviate food insecurity, yet the current benefit level is not enough to meet meal costs in most counties.

Data and Methods

• The analysis uses county-level food price data from NielsenIQ and SNAP participation estimates from the Census Bureau.
• The national average meal cost for food-secure households is calculated by dividing weekly food expenditures by the number of meals consumed.
• The TFP market basket is adjusted for county-specific prices and state/local taxes to estimate the local meal cost.
• The 15% increase in benefits during the pandemic is applied to the weighted average maximum benefit for 2020.

Policy Implications

• The current SNAP design is inadequate in many regions, especially where food prices are high.
• Geographic price differences significantly affect the purchasing power of SNAP benefits, and thus the effectiveness of the program.
• The 15% increase helped reduce the gap, but not eliminate it.
• The Biden administration has prioritized re-evaluating the TFP to better reflect local food costs and improve program adequacy.

Recommendations

• Revising the TFP to reflect local food prices could improve the effectiveness of SNAP.
• A 20% increase in the TFP, as proposed by Ziliak (2016), could significantly reduce meal cost gaps.
• Increasing SNAP benefits by $42 per week for all households, based on reported food security needs, could lead to a 61.8% decline in food insecurity at a cost of $27 billion.
• Expanding the maximum benefit to all households with incomes below 400% of the federal poverty level could lead to a 98% decline in food insecurity.

Conclusion

Despite its effectiveness in reducing food insecurity, SNAP benefits are insufficient to cover the cost of a modestly priced meal in most US counties. Geographic price variation is a key factor in this inadequacy, and the 15% increase during the pandemic only partially addressed the issue. Policymakers should consider adjusting the TFP to better reflect local food costs and increasing benefit levels to ensure that SNAP fulfills its mission of providing nutritious, affordable food to low-income families.