Full Citation

Title: Local Control, Discretion, and Administrative Burden: SNAP Interview Waivers and Caseloads During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Citation Type: Journal Article

Forthcoming?: Yes

ISBN:

ISSN: 15523357

DOI: 10.1177/02750740231186423/ASSET/IMAGES/LARGE/10.1177_02750740231186423-FIG1.JPEG

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Abstract: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture waived the certification interview for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), substantially reducing the administrative burden associated with SNAP application for both applicants and agencies. Using primary policy data collected from ten county-administered states, we find that only 27% of counties implemented the interview waiver. Further, models of local decision-making indicate that public health risk, demographic vulnerability and economic need, and political orientation in the county were not statistically significant predictors of waiver use. Finally, we find that the waiver choice did affect SNAP caseloads: using difference-in-difference models that make use of the natural experiment, we find that counties that adopted the SNAP interview waivers experienced a 5% increase in SNAP caseloads.

Url: https://journals-sagepub-com.ezp1.lib.umn.edu/doi/full/10.1177/02750740231186423

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Heflin, Colleen; Fannin, William Clay; Lopoo, Leonard

Periodical (Full): American Review of Public Administration

Issue:

Volume:

Pages: 1-13

Data Collections: IPUMS NHGIS

Topics: Methodology and Data Collection, Poverty and Welfare

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