2013 Conference

Food

Financial Services

This study examines the role of household financial status on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) before and during the recent economic crisis. We use panel data comprising of the 2003-2009 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics for this study. Our preliminary results of cross-sectional data analysis indicate that financially strained households and renters were more likely to participate in the SNAP program and the likelihood of their participation increased during the period of recent economic crisis. Further, some of the financial situation variables did not have consistent effects on food stamp participation over time. The results also indicate that vehicle ownership, although not a significant factor for participation in the 2003-2005 waves, reduced the likelihood of SNAP participation during the 2007-2009 periods. Additional analysis will be conducted to see how the roles of these determinants have changed before and after the economic crisis.