Abstract
This study aims to describe differences in participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women and Children (WIC), and school meal programs by household characteristics prior to and during the pandemic, and to examine the association of program participation with food security status and food pantry use. We analyze secondary data (n = 470) from an online survey collected in July/August 2020 using weighted multiple logistic regression models. Participation in SNAP declined among households with children in the first four months of the pandemic, while participation in WIC increased slightly, and participation in school meals remained unchanged. There were significant differences in SNAP, WIC, and school meal programs use by race/ethnicity, income, and urbanicity before and during the pandemic. Food insecurity prevalence was higher among SNAP participants at both periods but the gap between participants and non-participants was smaller during the pandemic. Pantry use and food insecurity rates were consistently higher among federal nutrition assistance program participants, possibly suggesting unmet food needs. These results highlight the need for increased program benefits and improved access to food, particularly during periods of hardship.
Highlights
In 2019, prior to the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic, 13.6% of United States (U.S.) households with children experienced food insecurity [1]
For WIC, 19.4% of households with children participated in the year prior to the pandemic compared to 24.3% during the first four months of the pandemic
We found significant differences in the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), WIC, and school meal programs by race, income, and urbanicity before the pandemic; most of these differences persisted or were exacerbated in the months following the pandemic
Summary
In 2019, prior to the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic, 13.6% of United States (U.S.) households with children (compared to 10.5% of all U.S households) experienced food insecurity [1]. These calculation rules were suspended due to emergency allotments, which raised most households’ SNAP benefits to the maximum amount [14] during the period under consideration, the benefits did not increase for households with the lowest incomes who were already at the maximum amount These households did not receive additional benefits until the passage of subsequent relief packages [15]. In response to the pandemic, the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) worked with states and retailers to expand the online SNAP purchasing pilot, which was available in 47 states by the end of 2020 [17] This rapid expansion aimed to provide greater access to food to SNAP participants; online redemptions only accounted for 3% of benefits redeemed in December 2020 [17]
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