At A Glance
Noteworthy Characteristics
- Provides SNAP participation counts at the county level.
- Provides data on average SNAP benefit per participant.
- Has an interactive web-based mapping application that maps program participation and benefit levels with county-level detail for all 50 States and the Nation.
Website
https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap-data-system/
Purpose
To provide data about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation and benefit levels in the United States (U.S.).
Target Population
SNAP participants in the U.S.
Conducted
Began in 1997. Updated annually. Most recent year available is 2012.
Sponsor
Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Special Note(s)
SNAP was formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.
Contact:
John A. Kirlin at jkirlin@ers.usda.gov
Sampling
Sample Design
Database, not a survey.
SNAP participation data are provided by the Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) section of the U.S. Census Bureau. The original data come from the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA. County-level data counts are usually for the month of July. The Census Bureau adjusts the county-level values to the State-level value. When the original data cover an area larger than a single county, the Census Bureau uses a measure of poverty in the multiple areas to apportion the SNAP caseload numbers across the multiple areas.
SNAP benefit data are provided by the Regional Economic Accounts Directorate of the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The data measure the value of program benefits issued to qualifying low-income households to supplement their ability to purchase food. The State estimates are based on USDA's tabulations of the value of distributed benefits. County estimates are based either on payment data from the various State departments of social services or imputed from the percentage change in benefits at the State level.
Learn more about the sampling design.
Sample Size
Approximately 31.5 million SNAP participants in 2008.
Special Note(s)
All data, except program benefit amounts, are for a selected point in time each year. Program benefit levels are total benefits issued over the course of a calendar year.
Key Variables
Diet-Related
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Total SNAP participants | Imputed |
| Percent of population participating in SNAP | Imputed |
| Ratio of SNAP participants to persons in poverty | Imputed |
| Total SNAP benefits level | Imputed |
| Average monthly SNAP benefit per resident | Imputed |
| Average monthly SNAP benefit per participant | Imputed |
Geocode/Linkage
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| County, State | N/A |
Data Access and Cost
Data Availability
Obtain data through the SNAP Data System website. Data available via download or mapping tool through the SNAP Data System website.
Cost
Free of charge.
Geocode/Linkage
Geocode Variable(s)
Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) codes for counties and States.
Existing Linkages
None noted.
Selected Publications
General
None noted.
