Anti-Poverty Policies: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Introduction

Poverty is a constant problem worldwide, with millions living below the poverty line. Nations worldwide have enforced eclectic anti-poverty policies to lower poverty levels, yet these policies have only occasionally been prosperous. This essay will explore why anti-poverty policies have failed to lower poverty, research a government program to lower poverty and inequality, and suggest changes to the policy to make it more adequate in lowering poverty.

Causes of Failure of Anti-Poverty Policies

Anti-poverty policies are agendas and initiatives handling the root rationales of poverty and societal imbalance. Nevertheless, despite the enactment of various anti-poverty policies, poverty continues. One explanation is that poverty is a multifaceted problem that cannot be unraveled with a single policy (Reinert, 2019). For example, poverty can be driven by unemployment, underemployment, low wages, high cost of living, lack of education, lack of healthcare, and others. Policies that best handle one element of poverty will not successfully lessen poverty. Thus, anti-poverty policies must be exhaustive and manage the various causes of poverty.

The second reason anti-poverty policies have yet to be triumphant is enactment issues. Policies can be well-meaning but will not achieve their planned goals (Reinert, 2019). Undertaking problems include poor targeting, lack of political will, insufficient funding, and poor administration. These issues can hinder the efficacy of anti-poverty policies.

Moreover, anti-poverty policies frequently fail to handle the underlying causes of poverty. For example, some policies concentrate on delivering financial assistance to people or households without handling the root causes of poverty, such as a lack of education or employment prospects (Bardach & Patashnik, 2019). This can eternalize poverty in the long run.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

One example of a government program that sought to lower poverty and imbalance is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the United States, previously known as food stamps. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) aids the program. SNAP delivers qualified people with funds to buy food items. The program aims to guarantee that low-income individuals have the key to sufficient nutrition. Household income, assets, and other aspects define eligibility for SNAP.

How it Works

The SNAP program delivers monetary aid to low-income individuals and households to buy food. Individuals’ assistance relies on their income, household size, and other elements. Participants are issued an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, like a debit card, which they can utilize to buy suitable food items at official retailers (Gundersen, 2021). Eligibility for the program is established on income and other aspects, such as household size and expenditures. In 2020, around 35 million individuals acquired SNAP help, with a moderate monthly benefit of $121 per person. The program aims to ensure that all Americans have access to a healthy diet and lower hunger and malnutrition among low-income people and households.

Issues with SNAP

One of the main problems with SNAP is the stigma associated with acquiring benefits. Some individuals view SNAP beneficiaries as lazy or undeserving, resulting in unfavorable stereotypes and prejudice (Nestle, 2019). This stigma can stop individuals from applying for SNAP or make them feel embarrassed when using their benefits, contributing to a cycle of poverty and food insecurity.

Another area for advancement with SNAP is the sophistication of the program’s eligibility prerequisites and application procedure. The rules for deciding eligibility can be incoherent and differ by state, making it challenging to decide if they qualify for benefits. The application process can also be time-consuming and involve much paperwork, discouraging some individuals from applying.

SNAP advantages are also rather low, making it hard for recipients to afford enough food. In 2020, the moderate monthly benefit was $121 per individual, too little to cover the expense of a nutritious diet (Gundersen, 2021). This can lead to food insecurity and poor health outcomes, particularly for children.

In addition, SNAP benefits only supplement a household’s food budget and provide some of their food needs (Nestle, 2019). This means that recipients may still struggle to afford other necessities, such as housing, healthcare, and transportation, which can contribute to poverty and imbalance.

Recommendations for Improving SNAP

To manage these problems and make SNAP more practical in lowering poverty and imbalance, various changes could be made to the program:

1. Expand SNAP benefits: Raising the number of SNAP benefits would help recipients afford a more nutritious diet and lower food insecurity (Bardach & Patashnik, 2019). The benefits could be based on the cost of a healthy diet in a particular area.
2. Simplify the eligibility requirements and application process: Streamlining the eligibility requirements and the application process could make it easier for people to apply for and receive benefits. This could include creating a single set of national eligibility rules and simplifying the application process.
3. Decrease stigma: Efforts could be made to reduce the stigma associated with receiving SNAP benefits. This could include public education campaigns emphasizing the program’s importance and positive impact on recipients and communities.
4. Raise eligibility: Expanding eligibility for SNAP could help more low-income individuals and families access food assistance. This could include raising the income eligibility threshold or expanding eligibility to certain groups, such as college learners and illegal immigrants.
5. Additional support services: Additional support services, such as job training and healthcare, could assist recipients in moving out of poverty and become self-sufficient. These services could be modified with SNAP to deliver a more comprehensive approach to handling poverty and inequality.
6. Raising outreach efforts could help more eligible individuals and families learn about and apply for SNAP benefits. This could include partnering with community institutions and using targeted advertising to reach those who may need to be aware of the program.

References

Bardach, E., & Patashnik, E. M. (2019). A practical guide for policy analysis: The eightfold path to more effective problem solving. CQ press.

Gundersen, C. (2021). A proposal to reconstruct the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) into a universal basic income program for food. Food Policy, 101, 102096.

Nestle, M. (2019). The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): history, politics, and public health implications. American journal of public health, 109(12), 1631–1635.

Reinert, E. S. (2019). How rich countries got rich… and why poor countries stay poor. Hachette UK.