Right to Food and SNAP Participation

Right to Food

• The US does not have a right to food in its constitution, nor do any members of the European Union.
• 29 other countries recognize the right to food.
• Food insecurity in the US remained stable until 2008, then increased due to the recession.
• Food insecurity varies regionally, with areas like the Mississippi Delta and Appalachia experiencing higher rates due to income inequality.

SNAP Participation Hurdles

• Two main barriers to SNAP participation are stigma associated with government assistance programs and the perceived burden of the application process.
• These application costs may outweigh the program benefits for some individuals.

SNAP Recipient Requirements

• Proposals to place more requirements on SNAP recipients include imposing work requirements.
• Guidelines for what recipients can and cannot purchase with SNAP benefits.

Improving SNAP Access

• Increasing the gross income limit to 200% of the poverty line could allow more households access to SNAP benefits.

Food Insecurity and International Agreements

• Food insecurity is connected to the "right to food," formalized in agreements like the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
• The US does not have a "right to food" but has the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that exists for over 50 years.
• Food security is measured using the Core Food Security Module (CFSM).
• Households are categorized as food secure, low food secure, or very low food secure based on financial constraints and related questions.

Food Insecurity Trends

• Food insecurity increased significantly during the 2008-2014 Great Recession, but rates since have declined, albeit still above pre-recession levels.

Geographic Disparities in Food Insecurity

• Rural areas like Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta experience higher rates of food insecurity.
• SNAP eligibility is based on income, assets, and household needs, with benefits decreasing as income rises.

Effective Mechanisms (SNAP)

• Benefits are delivered electronically via EBT cards, compatible with over 250,000 retail outlets.

SNAP as an Entitlement Program

• SNAP remains fully funded. It expands during economic downturns, as it's an entitlement program, without requiring special government funding.

Minimal Conditions for SNAP Recipients

• Minimal conditions are currently imposed on recipients, but proposed work requirements or restrictions on food purchases may increase stigma and dissuade participation.

Providing Sufficient Resources (SNAP)

• Current SNAP benefits often fail to meet recipients' needs, and some face food insecurity.

Challenges Regarding SNAP

• Should SNAP's goal be ending all food insecurity or meeting only specific cases?
• Governments should avoid policies that increase access barriers (e.g., food taxes).
• SNAP does not cover everyone in need, including undocumented immigrants and people with disabilities.

Adapting SNAP in Other Countries

• Implementing SNAP in other countries might require adapting to different infrastructure levels.

Coordination with Other Programs (e.g. SNAP)

• Coordinated programs like school lunches support food security for vulnerable populations like students.

Modernizing SNAP Benefits

• SNAP benefits use the "Thrift Food Plan" (TFP).
• Calculation: Maximum benefit - 30% of net income.
• The TFP is outdated and unrealistic because it assumes sufficient time to prepare food.
• Teenagers may not adequately be categorized, leading to insufficiency of benefits.
• Three proposals suggest increasing the TFP by 20% to account for time costs, updating the TFP to reflect geographic price differences and diverse household needs.
• Benefit of this modernization proposal: Reduce food insecurity.
• Cost: Increased annual budget for SNAP.

Additional Programs

• WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)
• Child Nutrition Programs (NSLP/SBP/CEP)
• Benefits are primarily used shortly after receiving them.
• In-kind assistance provides specific goods and services over cash.
• Childhood access to SNAP is linked to health and reduced risk of metabolic syndrome.
• Elderly, disabled, and unhoused people are common groups requiring assistance through SNAP.

Restaurant Meals Program (RMP)

• A state-level SNAP option, RMP directs benefits toward prepared meals at restaurants.
• As of the writing, only 9 states participate in this program.

School Meal Programs

• National School Lunch Program (NSLP): Provides free, reduced, and full-price lunches for students.
• School Breakfast Program (SBP): Provides meals to children with similar income-based eligibility to NSLP.