Massachusetts SNAP Expenditures 2006-2009: An Analysis
In August of 2010, MuckRock, an online group that works to file many Freedom of Information requests with the US government, obtained a dataset containing the yearly amount of reimbursements the federal government paid for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps. Individuals eligible for SNAP benefits may spend their allotments at any grocery that accepts them, provided the food is not prepared (ie restaurants). The supermarket then takes the aggregate sum of all purchases and files with the USDA to be reimbursed for the full amount. The data that was released included the total amount reimbursed for the years 2006 to 2009, the name of the store, and the complete address.
Of note, but of no further comment, was that after releasing the data, the USDA then attempted to recall the dataset from MuckRock, threatening legal action. Subsequently, they were not successful. At least for this author, it elicits some questions as to why, but moreover, I’m more drawn to what we can learn from analyzing the changes in SNAP reimbursements. Such as:
- Are there counties of Massachusetts that experienced disproportionate increases of SNAP reimbursements?
- Where are the majority of SNAP reimbursements being made?
- Are changes in expenditures at Whole Foods groceries significantly different from other stores in the area?
