Paid-Leave Availability and Public Health and Nutrition Program Participation Following a Birth in the U.S.

Abstract

This study examines the relationships between state-provided paid-leave availability and enrollment in public health and nutrition programs (SNAP, Medicaid, WIC) among single low-income women following a birth in the U.S. We hypothesize that women in paid leave states will be less likely to participate in publicly available health and nutrition programs. Data are from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), a nationally representative panel survey data set (N = 1168). Descriptive tests of significance and probit regression models are used to examine the relationship between paid-leave availability and participation in SNAP, Medicaid, and WIC following a birth. A descriptive analysis suggests significantly lower enrollment in SNAP but not Medicaid or WIC for single low-income women in paid-leave states compared to those in non-paid-leave states. The finding of significantly lower post-birth SNAP participation in paid-leave states holds in probit models that include potentially relevant mother, household, and state controls.