Let's Talk SNAP
Food Stamps can be controversial in some circles. Let's talk about some of the benefits and detriments to the program.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as Food Stamps), began as a pilot program under the Kennedy administration and has transformed into the federal program we have today.
"SNAP alleviates hunger and improves nutrition by increasing the food purchasing power of low-income households, enabling them to obtain a more nutritious diet by preparing food at home."--USDA
Let's be real.
Many people speculate that those receiving SNAP benefits are living off of welfare, taking advantage of the system. While that may be the worldview of some recipients, the USDA reports that "Over the past 20 years, earnings have replaced cash welfare as the most common income source among SNAP households" and that SNAP "supports those whose wages are too low to lift them out of poverty." (Building a Healthy America, pg. 1 & 10)
Is this cost-effective?
SNAP benefit funding is provided by the federal government, while the state and federal government share the administrative costs, which average about $55/month per case. SNAP benefits allows the program to adapt to meet the economy, participation enables those purchasing monies to flow into local communities that may face rising unemployment or poverty. In periods of economic decline, SNAP puts critical dollars back into local economy. Studies indicate that every $1 in new benefits generates up to $1.80 in economic activity. Using SNAP benefits ameliorates food insecurity while benefiting the store, employees, and the method in which the food was produced. "Each $1 billion increase in SNAP benefits is estimated to create or maintain 18,000 full-time equivalent jobs, including 3,000 farm jobs." (Building a Healthy America, pg. 3)
Flaws
SNAP is not immune to problems. Fraud and trafficking within the program have lessened dramatically since its inception, however they are still present. Approximately 3% of recipients are issued excess benefits, while 1% are given less than they are eligible for. About 1% of SNAP benefits are sold for cash. In total, 5%. This is not a large percentage, but from a large budget in the billions, the numbers add up. (Building a Healthy America, pg. 1).
Studies show that individuals receiving SNAP benefits on average improve their diet quality, but not by much. In order to augment poor food purchasing choices, funding for SNAP Nutrition Education has increased and are active in every state.
So, is it worth it? As someone who is in need of this assistance in order to make healthy choices, I would say yes.
Let me know what you think.