Nick Maryns, FRAC's 2007 Emerson Hunger Fellow, authored a new FRAC report that synthesizes the research regarding access and barriers to access for Food Stamp Program eligible people. Findings are organized both by type of practice and by demographic group. Topics include applications; verification requirements; options for where, when and how to submit applications and complete interviews; the perceived stigma associated with public benefit receipt; requirements for client reporting and recertifying; language access; immigrants' concerns about their legal status; and finger imaging requirements.

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION
How to Use This Report
A Word about This Report’s Methodology

I. PARTICIPATION IN THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM: OVERVIEW

Participation Rates and Trends
Recent Participation Rates
Eligible Nonparticipants: Who Are They?
Comparing Participants with Eligible Nonparticipants
Participation Trends and Household Characteristics

The Decision to Participate: Costs versus Benefits
The Impacts of High Application Costs
The Impacts of Benefit Levels

Satisfaction with the Food Stamp Program

The Effects of Pressure to Maintain High Accuracy Rates
Sources of Errors
The Pressure of Error Rates

Outreach: Its Scope, Necessity, and Limitations
Some Eligible Nonparticipants are Unaware of Food Stamps or Their Own Eligibility
Outreach Methods and Practices
Outreach Alone May Not Ensure Participation

II. THE CLIENT EXPERIENCE AND OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION IN THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

Stigma
The Effects of Stigma on Participation
Stigma Among Food Stamp Participants
Stigma Affects Different Groups to Varying Degrees

Food Stamp Offices: Location and Hours
Introduction
Time and Cost
Office Location
Office Hours

Customer Service and the Office Environment
Satisfaction with Customer Service
Application Availability
Caseload Sizes and Customer Service
Communications Between Clients and the Local Office
Offices’ Lack of Understanding of Deductions and Other Policies
The Office Environment: Special Accommodations and Long Lines
Customer Treatment by Workers

The Food Stamp Application
Customer Dissatisfaction with the Application
Food Stamp Application Characteristics

Verification Requirements
Reasons Verifications are Difficult for Clients
The Extent to Which Verification Requirements Affect Participation

Interview Practices
The Extent to Which Interviews Affect Participation
Waiving the Face-to-Face Interview
Hours, Scheduling, and Other In-Office Interview Practices

Recertification Practices
The Extent to Which Recertification Affects Participation
Who Stumbles at Recertification?
Recertification Practices: Recertification Periods
Other Recertification Practices That May Affect Participation
Why Recertification Affects Participation
Recertification Periods and Participation
Reporting Practices

Categorical Eligibility
Policy Impacts
Implementation Issues
What Does the Categorically Eligible Caseload Look Like?

Finger Imaging
Deterrent Effects on Participation Among Eligible People
Costs
The Inaccuracies of Finger Imaging

Technology Issues
Customer Difficulties with New Technologies
Administrative Difficulties

TANF’s Impact on Food Stamp Participation
TANF Diversion Practices
Sanction Policies
TANF Leavers and Food Stamp Participation
Verification and Recertification Difficulties for TANF Food Stamp Households

III. BARRIERS TO SPECIFIC GROUPS

Low-Income Working Households
Participation and Low-Income Working Families
Lack of Knowledge or Perceived Need for the Program
Stigma Among Low-Income Working Households
Difficulties Getting Time Away from Work
Office Hours: Effects on Participation and Office Practices
Recertification and Reporting Practices

Seniors and Disabled Individuals
Participation Among Households with Elderly and Disabled Members
Costs Versus Benefits for Elderly Households
Lack of Knowledge of the Program Among the Elderly
Stigma Among Elderly Households
Application Difficulties
Recertification Periods for Elderly Households
Food Stamp/SSI CAPs

Immigrants and Those with Limited English Proficiency
Participation Among Noncitizens and Hispanics
Participation Among Citizen Children in Noncitizen Households
Misperceptions Around Immigration Status
The Food Stamp Application and Other Written Treatments of Immigration Status
Difficulties with Interviews and Verifications
Interpretation and other Customer Services for Those With Limited English Proficiency

Households with Children
Participation Among Households with Children
Citizen Children Living with Noncitizen Adults
Stigma Among Households with Children
Child Care Availability in Food Stamp Offices
Application Difficulties for Households with Children
Recertification Periods and Participation Among Households with Children

Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs)
Time Limits

APPENDIX: WORKS CITED