SNAP Participation
...
Why do we measure SNAP Participation?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS) that aims to address hunger and improve access to a nutritious diet, particularly among low-income households. The program is administered by the USDA FNS in partnership with state SNAP agencies. The SNAP program works by directly providing financial resources to eligible households to enable the purchase of nutritionally adequate food from authorized retailers. The monthly benefit allotment varies based on a calculation of household needs.1,2
Research suggests that participation in SNAP reduces household food insecurity.3-5 Alongside other federal food assistance programs, such as the National School Lunch Program and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, SNAP supports the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2030 objective to reduce household food insecurity and hunger.6,7 Reflecting SNAP’s role in strengthening household food security, a growing body of evidence suggests that the program is associated with improvement in several health-related outcomes.4,8-10
How do we measure SNAP Participation?
This metric estimates the percentage of households that participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the past quarter. To produce timely, accurate estimates of SNAP Participation for congressional districts, the Dashboard combines data from American Community Survey (ACS) and the USDA FNS.
The Dashboard team calculates the proportion of households that participate in SNAP in each congressional district from ACS data, then applies this proportion to monthly USDA FNS state counts of households participating in the program. To derive quarterly estimates, three-month averages of statewide enrollment numbers are used.
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths of Metric | Limitations of Metric |
|---|---|
The methods used to calculate this metric enable a timely, accurate report of SNAP participation. By supplementing survey data with administrative data, the methods used to calculate this metric help correct for underestimation in survey data due to underreporting. The quarterly estimate allows for observation of trends over time, particularly for state-level estimates. | This metric reflects SNAP program utilization, not overall need. This metric does not provide insight regarding the proportion of households that are SNAP-eligible but not participating. The methods used to calculate this metric may limit some comparisons at the congressional district level. While state counts of households participating in the program are updated monthly, the ACS proportion of households participating in SNAP is only updated annually and is lagged for more recent quarters. |
Calculation
Percent (%) of households participating in SNAP in the past quarter for congressional districts is calculated by the following formulas:
Note: State enrollment counts are obtained directly from USDA FNS data.
For more information on the calculation, please refer to the Congressional District Health Dashboard Technical Document.
Data Source
Estimates for this metric are from 2022-2024 American Community Survey (ACS) data using table S2201 and from fiscal years 2023-2025 U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS) State Level Monthly Data using the household participation column.
Years of Collection
Calculated by the Dashboard Team using data from 2025 Q3, 1 quarter average estimate.
References
Aussenberg R, Falk G. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A Primer on Eligibility and Benefits. 2025. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R42505
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Updated November 24, 2025. https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/the-supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap
Ratcliffe C MS, Zhang S. How Much Does the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Reduce Food Insecurity? Am J Agric Econ. 2011;93(4):1082-1098. doi:doi:10.1093/ajae/aar026
Gundersen C, Ziliak JP. Food Insecurity And Health Outcomes. Health Affairs. 2015;34(11):1830-1839. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0645
Mabli J OJ, Dragoset L, Castner L, Santos B. Measuring the Effect of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participation on Food Security. 2013. https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/snap/measuring-effect-snap-food-security
Reduce household food insecurity and hunger — NWS‑01. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/reduce-household-food-insecurity-and-hunger-nws-01
Food Insecurity. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health/literature-summaries/food-insecurity
Carlson S, Llobrera J. SNAP Is Linked With Improved Health Outcomes and Lower Health Care Costs. 2022. https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/snap-is-linked-with-improved-health-outcomes-and-lower-health-care-costs
Hoynes H, Schanzenbach D, Almond D. Long-Run Impacts of Childhood Access to the Safety Net. American Economic Review. 106(4):903–934. doi:10.1257/aer.20130375
Frongillo EA, Jyoti DF, Jones SJ. Food Stamp Program participation is associated with better academic learning among school children. J Nutr. Apr 2006;136(4):1077-80. doi:10.1093/jn/136.4.1077