Feasibility and Accuracy of Record Linkage To Estimate Multiple Program Participation: Volume III, Results of Record Linkage

by Nancy Cole, Ellie Lee, and Mark Prell

This study investigated the feasibility of linking administrative data from multiple USDA food assistance and nutrition programs. This report contains findings from Phase II of the study, which collected and linked 2000-02 administrative data on clients of the Food Stamp Program (FSP) and the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Florida, Iowa, and Kentucky. The report finds that the percentage of FSP infants (children) with contemporaneous participation in WIC ranged from 84 to 94 percent (50 to 57 percent). Meanwhile, the percentage of WIC infants (children) with contemporaneous participation in FSP ranged from 22 to 38 percent (29 to 50 percent). Most FSP women who gave birth during the 3-year period participated in WIC for some period (83 percent in Florida and 91 percent in Iowa). Phase II also examined the relative timing of participation across programs and the individual and household characteristics associated with multiple program participation.

Keywords: Food assistance programs, program integrity, program, program caseloads, Food Stamp Program, Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children, WIC, Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program, FANRP

In this publication...

• Entire Report
• Abstract, Acknowledgments, Contents, Executive Summary
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Data
• Chapter 3: Methods
• Chapter 4: Results
• Chapter 5: Summary and Conclusions
• References