Reducing Barriers to Successful SNAP Application and Participation among Indiana Households with Young Children

Abstract

While the 2019 national rate of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation was 85% of eligible individuals, the Indiana participation rate was considerably lower at 75% (USDA FNS, 2019). Given the relationship between food insecurity and public health, closing the gap between SNAP participation and food-insecure households with young children would increase health equity across Indiana. Our community-involved project investigated the SNAP application process and barriers to successful SNAP participation among food-insecure households with young children in Indiana. We find major barriers include participation stigma, eligibility guidelines, onerous paperwork and verification requirements associated with the application, fear of being a public charge and denied residency or citizenship, and SNAP benefits not being adequate in proportion to the application burden. We recommend educational campaigns and SNAP outreach to vulnerable populations, as well as the elimination of asset testing and the gross income test. We recommend streamlining the application process with an interactive website, and updating the Thrifty Food Plan to determine more adequate benefits for households.