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The Effects of Lump-Sum Food Benefits during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Spending, Hardship, and Health

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  • Lauren L. Bauer
  • Krista J. Ruffini
  • Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach

Abstract

This paper examines how providing families with lump-sum in-kind assistance during the pandemic affected food hardship, economic well-being, and maternal health. We study the introduction of a new program, P-EBT, that provided grocery vouchers worth approximately $300 per student during spring and summer 2020. Using cross-state variation in program timing, we find that families spent $18-42 per student per week in the 6 weeks after benefit receipt. Household food insufficiency and children’s food insecurity among low-income families declined by 27-49% in the month following receipt, and maternal mental health improved by 0.9 standard deviation.

Suggested Citation

  • Lauren L. Bauer & Krista J. Ruffini & Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, 2024. "The Effects of Lump-Sum Food Benefits during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Spending, Hardship, and Health," NBER Working Papers 33199, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:33199
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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