Documentation
Overview
The SNAP Policy Database provides a central source of information on State policy choices over time. The database draws on policy information from a wide variety of sources, including surveys by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), national and State policy research organizations, State policy manuals, and news articles. Data are provided for all 50 States and the District of Columbia, for each month from January 1996 through December 2016.
The information in this database can facilitate research on factors that influence SNAP participation and on SNAP's effects on a variety of outcomes, such as health and dietary intake. More specifically, the database can be used to:
- Describe the differences in the State-level administration of SNAP and trends in the adoption of specific State-level SNAP policies,
- Examine how State policies affect household-level participation in SNAP, and
- Estimate the effect of SNAP participation on outcomes such as health and food spending by combining this data with nationally representative survey data. The SNAP Policy Database provides a potentially exogenous source of variation in program participation and can be used in instrumental variables estimation techniques.
The variables in the database cover eligibility criteria, recertification and reporting requirements, benefit issuance methods, availability of online applications, use of biometric technology, and coordination with other low-income assistance programs. Definitions and coding conventions for each variable in the data set are detailed below.
Missing and imputed values
Missing values indicate that no information is available on State implementation of the policy in a specific time period. For example, information is not available through December 2016 for all policies. Missing values are denoted by a blank cell in the Excel worksheet. For variables that are derived primarily from FNS’s annual State Options Reports, ERS assumed that any policy changes between reports occurred at the midpoint of the two reports. These imputations were applied to the following variables: call, cap, compdq, oapp, vehexclall, vehexclamt, and vehexclone. Further details about the imputations are available upon request.
Identifying Variables
state_fips
Definition: The State FIPS (Federal Information Processing) code.
Coding description: range = 1, 56.
state_pc
Definition: The State postal code.
Coding description: string variable.
statename
Definition: Name of the State.
Coding description: string variable.
yearmonth
Definition: A six-digit integer (YYYYMM) indicating the month and year of the observation.
Coding description: range = 199601, 201612.
Policy Variables
bbce
Definition: The State uses broad-based categorical eligibility to increase or eliminate the asset test and/or to increase the gross income limit for virtually all SNAP applicants.
Coding description: range = 0, 1, where 0 = no and 1 = yes.
bbce_inclmt
Definition: The gross income limit as a percentage of the Federal poverty guidelines used under broad-based categorical eligibility.
Coding description: range = -9, 200, where -9 = no broad-based categorical eligibility.
bbce_asset
Definition: The State eliminates the asset test under broad-based categorical eligibility.
Coding description: range = -9, 1, where -9 = no broad-based categorical eligibility, 0 = asset limit is increased but not eliminated, and 1 = asset limit is eliminated.
bbce_a_amt
Definition: The dollar amount of the asset limit used under broad-based categorical eligibility (in thousands).
Coding description: range = -9, 25, where -9 = no broad-based categorical eligibility, or broad-based categorical eligibility eliminates the asset test.
bbce_a_veh
Definition: The State excludes at least one, but not all, vehicles in the household from the SNAP asset test used under broad-based categorical eligibility.
Coding description: range = -9, 1, where -9 = no broad-based categorical eligibility, or broad-based categorical eligibility eliminates the asset test.
bbce_hh
Definition: The State limits broad-based categorical eligibility to certain types of households.
Coding description: range = -9, 2, where -9 = no broad-based categorical eligibility, 0 = no limits on broad-based categorical eligibility, 1 = broad-based categorical eligibility limited to households with at least one dependent child, 2 = broad-based categorical eligibility limited to households with dependent care expenses.
bbce_sen
Definition: The State increases or eliminates the asset test for households with senior or disabled members under broad-based categorical eligibility only if their gross income is below a specified level.
Note: Households with senior or disabled members whose income is above the State-specified cut-off (typically 200 percent of the poverty line) do not qualify for broad-based categorical eligibility and would face the federal asset limit.
Coding description: range = -9, 1, where -9 = no broad-based categorical eligibility, 0 = no gross income limit for households with seniors or disabled members to qualify for broad-based categorical eligibility, 1 = gross income limit applied to households with seniors or disabled members to qualify for broad-based categorical eligibility.
call
Definition: The State operates call centers, and whether or not call centers service the entire State or select regions within the State.
Coding description: range = 0, 2, where 0 = no call centers, 1 = call centers available Statewide, and 2 = call centers available only in select parts of the State.
cap
Definition: The State operates a Combined Application Project for recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), so that SSI recipients are able to use a streamlined SNAP application process.
Coding description: range = 0, 1, where 0 = no and 1 = yes.
certearn0103
Definition: The proportion of SNAP units with earnings with 1-3 month recertification periods.
Coding description: range = 0, 0.93.
certearn0406
Definition: The proportion of SNAP units with earnings with 4-6 month recertification periods.
Coding description: range = 0, 1.
certearn0712
Definition: The proportion of SNAP units with earnings with 7-12 month recertification periods.
Coding description: range = 0, 1.
certearn1399
Definition: The proportion of SNAP units with earnings with 13+ month recertification periods.
Coding description: range = 0, 0.88.
certearnavg
Definition: The average certification period (in months) for SNAP units with earnings.
Coding description: range = 3.1, 15.2.
certearnmed
Definition: The median certification period (in months) for SNAP units with earnings.
Coding description: range = 2.8, 15.
certeld0103
Definition: The proportion of elderly SNAP units with 1-3 month recertification periods.
Coding description: range = 0, 0.38.
certeld0406
Definition: The proportion of elderly SNAP units with 4-6 month recertification periods.
Coding description: range = 0, 0.73.
certeld0712
Definition: The proportion of elderly SNAP units with 7-12 month recertification periods.
Coding description: range = 0, 1.
certeld1399
Definition: The proportion of elderly SNAP units with 13+ month recertification periods.
Coding description: range = 0, 1.
certeldavg
Definition: The average certification period (in months) for elderly SNAP units.
Coding description: range = 7.3, 50.9.
certeldmed
Definition: The median certification period (in months) for elderly SNAP units.
Coding description: range = 6, 48.
certnonearn0103
Definition: The proportion of nonearning, nonelderly SNAP units with 1-3 month recertification periods.
Coding description: range = 0, 0.70.
certnonearn0406
Definition: The proportion of nonearning, nonelderly SNAP units with 4-6 month recertification periods.
Coding description: range = 0, 0.95.
certnonearn0712
Definition: The proportion of nonearning, nonelderly SNAP units with 7-12 month recertification periods.
Coding description: range = 0, 1.
certnonearn1399
Definition: The proportion of nonearning, nonelderly SNAP units with 13+ month recertification periods.
Coding description: range = 0, 0.84.
certnonearnavg
Definition: The average certification period (in months) for nonearning, nonelderly SNAP units.
Coding description: range = 4.5, 20.8.
certnonearnmed
Definition: The median certification period (in months) for nonearning, nonelderly SNAP units.
Coding description: range = 3, 19.
ebtissuance
Definition: The proportion of the dollar value of all SNAP benefits that are accounted for by EBT (electronic benefit transfer).
Coding description: range = 0, 1.
faceini
Definition: The State has been granted a waiver to use a telephone interview in lieu of a face-to-face interview at initial certification, without having to document household hardship.
Coding description: range = 0, 1, where 0 = no waiver, 1 = waiver applies in at least part of the State.
facerec
Definition: The State has been granted a waiver to use a telephone interview in lieu of a face-to- face interview at recertification, without having to document household hardship.
Coding description: range = 0, 1, where 0 = no waiver, 1 = waiver applies in at least part of the State.
fingerprint
Definition: The State requires fingerprinting of SNAP applicants.
Coding description: range = 0, 2, where 0 = no, 1 = fingerprints required Statewide, and 2 = fingerprints required in only select parts of the State.
noncitadultfull
Definition: All legal noncitizen adults (age 18-64) who satisfy other SNAP eligibility requirements such as income and asset limits are eligible for Federal SNAP benefits or State-funded food assistance.
Coding description: range = 0, 1, where 0 = no and 1 = yes.
noncitadultpart
Definition: Some, but not all, legal noncitizen adults (age 18-64) who satisfy other SNAP eligibility requirements such as income and asset limits are eligible for Federal SNAP benefits or State-funded food assistance.
Coding description: range = 0, 1, where 0 = no and 1 = yes.
noncitchildfull
Definition: All legal noncitizen children (age < 18) who satisfy other SNAP eligibility requirements such as income and asset limits are eligible for Federal SNAP benefits or State-funded food assistance.
Coding description: range = 0, 1, where 0 = no and 1 = yes.
noncitchildpart
Definition: Some, but not all, legal noncitizen children (age < 18) who satisfy other SNAP eligibility requirements such as income and asset limits are eligible for Federal SNAP benefits or State-funded food assistance.
Coding description: range = 0, 1, where 0 = no and 1 = yes.
nonciteldfull
Definition: All legal noncitizen elderly (age ≥ 65) who satisfy other SNAP eligibility requirements such as income and asset limits are eligible for Federal SNAP benefits or State-funded food assistance.
Coding description: range = 0, 1, where 0 = no and 1 = yes.
nonciteldpart
Definition: Some, but not all, legal noncitizen elderly (age ≥ 65) who satisfy other SNAP eligibility requirements such as income and asset limits are eligible for Federal SNAP benefits or State-funded food assistance.
Coding description: range = 0, 1, where 0 = no and 1 = yes.
oapp
Definition: The State allows households to submit a SNAP application online.
Coding description: range = 0, 2, where 0 = no, 1 = yes, Statewide, and 2 = yes, in only select parts of the State.
outreach
Definition: The sum of Federal, State, and grant outreach spending in nominal dollars (in thousands).
Note: This variable is derived from annual data, spread across 12 months of the relevant fiscal year.
Coding description: range = 0, 1881.
reportsimple
Definition: For households with earnings, the State uses the simplified reporting option that reduces requirements for reporting changes in household circumstances.
Coding description: range = 0, 1, where 0 = no and 1 = yes.
transben
Definition: The State offers transitional SNAP benefits to families leaving the TANF or State‐funded cash assistance programs.
Coding description: range = 0, 1, where 0 = no and 1 = yes.
vehexclall
Definition: The State excludes all vehicles in the household from the SNAP asset test.
Note: When a State removes the asset test due to its adoption of broad-based categorical eligibility, vehexclall is assigned a value of 1.
Coding description: range = 0, 1, where 0 = no and 1 = yes.
vehexclamt
Definition: The State exempts an amount higher than the SNAP standard auto exemption (set at $4,650 in FY2018) from the fair market value to determine the countable resource value of a vehicle.
Note: When a State removes the asset test due to its adoption of broad-based categorical eligibility, vehexclamt is assigned a value of 0.
Coding description: range = 0, 1, where 0 = no and 1 = yes.
vehexclone
Definition: The State excludes at least one, but not all, vehicles in the household from the SNAP asset test.
Note: When a State removes the asset test due to its adoption of broad-based categorical eligibility, vehexclone is assigned a value of 0.
Coding description: range = 0, 1, where 0 = no and 1 = yes.