Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program COVID-19 Policy and Enrollment Data, United States, 1987-2024

This study features Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) policy and enrollment data organized in three datasets. The data were originally collected for a companion paper, Pukelis, K. (2024). "SNAP Policies and Enrollment following the COVID-19 Pandemic (pdf)."

The SNAP COVID Policy Data (DS1) provides monthly data on states' adoption of policies to adjust SNAP enrollment requirements and benefits during the COVID-19 federal public health emergency, from March 2020 through June 2023. This dataset features information from all 50 states regarding policy waivers that were requested to simplify SNAP application and recertification requirements, temporarily waive recertification requirements, and provide emergency supplemental benefits. SNAP implementation procedures data from 2019 are also available for comparison.

The SNAP County Enrollment Data (DS2) contains county-month level data on SNAP enrollment numbers, total benefits issued, applications, and recertifications, as well as a handful of measures on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and Medicaid.

The SNAP State Enrollment Detail Data (DS3) includes state-month level data on SNAP enrollment details, including applications, recertifications, enrollment by demographic group, and information about office walk-in visits and calls to the assistance line. TANF and Medicaid state-month level data is also provided. The state enrollment file also features 62 variables detailing Louisiana case closures.

County and state enrollment files contain demographic information for a limited number of states, including SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid enrollment by age group, and state-month SNAP enrollment by gender, race, and ethnicity.