SNAP Policy Database	
Comma-separated values (.csv) data file notes.

Recommended Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (2024). SNAP policy database.	


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Questions concerning the development, use, or interpretation of the SNAP Policy Database should be addressed to:

Laura Tiehen, Jordan W. Jones, and Kegan O'Connor	
USDA/Economic Research Service/Food Economics Division/Food Assistance Branch

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The SNAP Policy Database contains variables that represent the SNAP policy options adopted in each State and the District of Columbia in each month from January 1996 to December 2020.

- Variable names are listed in the first row of the SNAPPolicyDatabase.csv file.

- A complete list of the variables, their definitions, and their coding is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) for download on the ERS website at data-products/snap-policy-data-sets/.

- In months when policy information is not available, missing values are denoted by a blank cell in the data worksheet. The downloadable list of variables provides information on missing values for each variable.  	

- These data can also be found in the SNAPPolicyDatabase.xslx file, which includes this explanatory information in a separate tab.

- Source: USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS) using USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) SNAP State Options Reports, SNAP Quality Control Data, and the SNAP National Databank. Information is also compiled from USDA, FNS policy guidance memos, contracted studies, and correspondence with FNS staff, as well as from national and State policy research organizations. More detailed information on sources is available from the SNAP Policy Database Documentation page on the ERS website.
