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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and food expenditures: Evaluating California's cash‐out policy

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  • Erik Hembre
  • Katherine McElroy
  • Shogher Ohannessian

Abstract

This paper investigates how Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility affects food expenditures. A 2019 policy change in California granted SNAP eligibility to previously ineligible Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. Using the Consumer Expenditure Survey, we find that after the policy change, affected SSI recipients increased their “food at home” budget share between 2.5 and 4.3 percentage points ($120 to $206 per quarter). The SNAP effect on total food expenditures is dampened by a decrease in “food away from home” which SNAP benefits cannot be spent on.

Suggested Citation

  • Erik Hembre & Katherine McElroy & Shogher Ohannessian, 2024. "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and food expenditures: Evaluating California's cash‐out policy," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 42(3), pages 544-573, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:42:y:2024:i:3:p:544-573
    DOI: 10.1111/coep.12650
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