Published: April 2026

ID #: 283-5114

Journal: American Journal of Public Health

Authors: Gago CM, Lee MM, Hammad NM, Wynne JO, Poole MK, Zimmer M, Mozaffarian RS, Colchamiro R, May K, Rimm EB, and Kenney EL

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This study explored how increased Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits interacted for dually enrolled households. Twenty-five parents dually enrolled in WIC and SNAP in the spring of 2020 shared perceptions of expanded benefits and reduced administrative requirements via semistructured interviews. Specifically, parents shared that: (1) benefit increases minimized monthly cycles of limited or uncertain access to food; (2) barriers to WIC redemption led many to prioritize SNAP benefits; (3) reduced administrative requirements facilitated staying enrolled in both programs; and (4) administrative flexibilities and benefit increases supported WIC and SNAP utilization. This qualitative study aimed to improve understanding of how expanded benefits and reduced administrative burden in WIC and SNAP simultaneously influenced eligible households’ retention and utilization decisions.

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