Nutrition Assistance Services & U.S. Spending On Programs

An OPEN MINDS Market Intelligence Report

Poverty and poor health are often linked for consumers with chronic conditions and complex support needs. Many individuals living in poverty lack food security – meaning they were unable to acquire or were uncertain of their ability to acquire enough food to meet the needs of all household members and can benefit from nutrition assistance programs. Research shows that these individuals struggling with food insecurity often have poor health outcomes. For example:

• Food insecure children are 1.4 times more likely to have asthma than food secure children.
• Seniors who are food insecure have comparable difficulties completing activities of daily living as food secure seniors 14 years older
• Low-income populations have a 27% higher risk of being admitted to the hospital for hypoglycemia at the end of the month

To help combat these problems, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service offers a variety of nutrition assistance programs to reduce food insecurity. These programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Supplemental Foods Program for Women, Children, and Infants (WIC), and child nutrition programs. In FY 2014, spending on nutrition assistance programs totaled $104.2 billion and accounted for 30.1% of total spending on social services. SNAP, WIC, and child nutrition programs each provide different benefits to different populations, but all address food insecurity and many populations receive assistance from more than one of the programs.

The report discusses eligibility requirements for each of these programs, and includes a list of the specific benefits available for SNAP and WIC in each state – as well as answers a number of questions:

1. What Nutrition Assistance Programs Are Available for Consumers?
2. What Are The Eligibility Criteria For SNAP & What Is The U.S. Spending On The Program?
3. What Are The Eligibility Criteria For WIC & What Is The U.S. Spending On The Program?
4. What Are The Eligibility Criteria For Child Nutrition Programs & What Is The U.S. Spending On The Program?