We often get requests for information on the actual SNAP and cash assistance households in local communities.
Hot of the press is the most recent information we recently received from DTA with information on the SNAP, TAFDC and EAEDC cash assistance caseloads by zip code, city/town and county in Massachusetts. You may find this useful for local press, advocacy with elected officials, grant reports.
Here's the link to the September 2012 zip code SNAP and cash caseload data posted on our Mass Legal Services website:
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Additionally, below is an email from the Food Research Action Center summarizing national Census data available on SNAP participation with a breakdown by State and County (this data is based on the 2011 American Community Survey of the US Census and thus the data is older than the very recent DTA caseload data - but gives you an excellent comparison with other states). Using the ACS information, you get a good "snap shot" of where we stand around the country (12.1% of the population relies on SNAP - 307.4K cases from the survey). The Massachusetts 8th Congressional District has the highest SNAP participation (18.2%) in the state, followed by the 2nd Congressional District (16.8%).
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Food Research and Action Center <jadach@frac.org>
Date: Tue, Sep 25, 2012 at 3:25 PM
Subject: Census Data Show SNAP Participation by State, County, and Congressional District Level
Census Data Show SNAP Participation by State, County, and Congressional District Level
Findings from the 2011 American Community Survey (ACS), released by the Census Bureau on September 20th, contain a wealth of information for advocates, policymakers, and the media, including the ability to look at Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation in 2011 by households at the state, county, and congressional district level. FRAC has compiled these data for your use.
Charts available on FRAC’s website include:
- States sorted alphabetically (pdf), and by rank (pdf) of percent of population participating in SNAP;
- Counties (with populations of more than 65,000 people) sortedalphabetically (pdf), and by rank (pdf) of percent of population participating in SNAP; and
- Congressional districts sorted alphabetically (pdf), and by rank (pdf) of percent of population participating in SNAP.
[Editor's Note: Links are no longer available]
One caveat about this data: the ACS is self-reported data and otherwise is slightly different than USDA, state, and county administrative program data. Therefore ACS participation rates are lower – sometimes considerably lower – than the administrative data. Over the years, self-reports in surveys have understated participation in various benefit programs. But the data do provide important opportunities to, for example, compare participation rates between counties, or between congressional districts.
For example, the numbers tell us:
- At the state level, Oregon had the highest percentage (18.9 percent) of households reporting receipt of SNAP. Several southern states fell into the top ten. Following Oregon were: Michigan (18.1 percent); Tennessee (17.6 percent); Maine (17.5 percent); Kentucky (17.4 percent); Mississippi (17.3 percent); Alabama (17 percent); Louisiana (16.4 percent); West Virginia (16 percent); South Carolina (15.4 percent); and New Mexico (15.4 percent).
- Among counties, Texas had three in the top ten: Hidalgo (35 percent); Webb (31 percent); and Cameron (28 percent). Bronx County in New York had the highest percentage (38 percent) of households reporting receipt of SNAP.
- New York’s 12th Congressional District had the highest rate at 53 percent, followed by Michigan’s 13th District (36 percent) and 14th District (32 percent). Fifty-six Congressional Districts had at least one in five households reporting receipt of SNAP, by the ACS measure.
Overall, these data show that SNAP was a lifeline for millions of low-income working families and other vulnerable Americans in 2011 everywhere in the country, and that it continues to be an important support.
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