The Food Stamp Program and Supplemental Security Income

Area of Science:

• Public Policy Analysis
• Social Welfare Research
• Economics

Background:

• The Food Stamp Program (FSP) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are key national public assistance programs.
• Significant overlap exists between the populations served by FSP and SSI.
• Approximately half of all SSI recipients live in households that also receive FSP benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the prevalence of FSP receipt among SSI recipient households.
• To determine the contribution of FSP to household income.
• To assess the impact of FSP features on the well-being of recipient households.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Social Security administrative data.
• Employed Food Stamp Quality Control samples for federal fiscal years 2001-2006.
• Examined FSP participation rates, income contribution, and benefit drivers.

Main Results:

• FSP participation among SSI households steadily increased from 47.4% in 2001 to 55.6% in 2006.
• FSP's contribution to household income grew from 13% in 2001 to 16.8% in 2006.
• Excess housing costs were a primary driver for increased FSP benefits in nearly 80% of participating households.

Conclusions:

• FSP plays an increasingly vital role in supporting the financial well-being of SSI recipient households.
• Challenges remain in assessing FSP eligibility and participation among non-recipient SSI households.
• Enhanced collaboration between the Food and Nutrition Service and the Social Security Administration is recommended to improve FSP utilization by eligible SSI recipients.