A new study published in the November 2023 issue of Food Policy reveals a significant decrease in food insecurity among low income families in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the study, the percentage of families experiencing food insecurity – sometimes or often not having enough food to eat – dropped from 24.5% to 22.5% at the onset of the pandemic in 2020.

This decline coincides with the rapid expansion of a pilot program enabling the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for online grocery purchases. The SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot, initially launched in a limited capacity in 2019, was mandated by the farm bill passed by Congress in 2014. The arrival of COVID-19 in early 2020, which disrupted schooling, child care, transportation, and in person retail shopping, prompted the program’s swift nationwide expansion.

Remarkably, SNAP online grocery purchases skyrocketed from less than $3 million in January 2020 to a staggering $155 million in June of the same year. The study, conducted in collaboration with Jordan Jones, a U.S. Department of Agriculture economist, involved analyzing 12 weeks of data from approximately 10,000 low income households. This analysis was facilitated through the Household Pulse Survey, covering the period from April 23, 2020, to July 21, 2020.

Using a two way fixed effects model, researchers leveraged the differences in the timing of the pilot’s roll out across various states. This approach enabled them to conclude that the expansion of SNAP’s online purchasing program contributed significantly to the reduction in food insecurity rates.

The study also highlighted the prevalence of very low food security – where families may skip meals (particularly those with children) – increased in 2020. The Online Purchasing Pilot did not have a significant impact on these households compared to those without children. This finding suggests that the online purchasing option does not fully address all food related challenges, especially those arising from school closures.

Despite creative solutions by school districts, like distributing grab and go meals when schools were closed, not all families could benefit from these initiatives. This highlights the importance of SNAP benefits, which currently assist over 42 million Americans in buying food. For fiscal year 2024, the maximum monthly amount for a family of four in the 48 mainland states and the District of Columbia is $973.

The online options for using these benefits vary by state, including major retailers like Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Safeway, and online platforms like Amazon. Online grocery shopping is particularly beneficial for people with disabilities, limited transportation access, or those living in remote areas. Interestingly, about one in six Americans pay for groceries online every week, with more than half having done so in the past 12 months.

In related research, another study conducted by Grace Melo, a member of the same research group, with a different team, found that the mental health of children in low income families receiving increased SNAP benefits remained stable despite the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on them.

This latest study is part of a series evaluating the impact of temporary food assistance policies during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, shedding light on the critical role of such programs in alleviating food insufficiency among vulnerable populations. Stay with us for more updates and insights on this developing story.