Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Income Volatility and Family Structure Patterns: Association with Stability and Change in Food Stamp Program Participation

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Family and Economic Issues Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Using the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study, this research investigated how income volatility and family structure patterns influence participation patterns of stability and change in Food Stamp Program participation among a sample of young families (n = 1,263). Multinomial logistic regression models suggested that families that experienced significant declines in income were more likely to persistently participate and initiate participation than to never participate. Furthermore, stably married families were more likely to never participate; while other stable family structures (cohabitating couples and singles) and transitional unions were associated with persistent participation compared to other participation patterns. Immigration status, health, multiple indicators of economic hardship, and participant access rates were also significant in predicting patterns of participation. Strategies to increase participation are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Most research on union formation and cohabitation has been on urban samples and has found an association between union formation and gains in income. However, Snyder and McLaughlin (2006) is an exception; they found that nonmetropolitan cohabiting households with children had poor economic well-being.

  2. The official participation rate takes into account not only household income, but also other eligibility criteria (e.g. citizenship status, household resources, etc.). Because calculating the official participation rate requires significant lag time, the PAR enables examining more recent participation trends. Additionally, one of the factors considered in the monetary awards that the USDA makes under the high performance bonuses established in the 2002 Farm Bill is the state’s PAR. For more information see http://www.fns.gov/oane/MENU/Published/FSP/FSPPartState.htm.

  3. Of those mothers who reported ranges in the 12-month survey, 40% reported incomes less than $5,000, 26% reported incomes between $5,000 and $10,000 (mean $8,141), 10% reported incomes between $10,000 and $15,000 (mean $13,183), 10% reported incomes between $15,000 and $20,000 (mean $18,202), 5% reported incomes between $20,000 and $25,000 (mean $23,075), 5% reported incomes between $25,000 and $30,000 (mean $28,189), and 5% reported incomes between $30,000 and $40,000 (mean $35,360). Among all 1,263 mothers 21% did not report a continuous income in the 12-month survey and 38% did not report a continuous income in the 30-month survey. Approximately 20% of the sample had their incomes imputed in both surveys. Income information based on mother report at the 30-month survey is available upon request.

  4. California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

References

  • Bania, N., & Leete, L. (2007, April). Income volatility and food insufficiency in U.S. low-income households, 1992–2003 (Discussion Paper #1325-07). Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin, Institute for Research on Poverty. Retrieved September 12, 2008, from http://www.irp.wisc.edu/publications/dps/pdfs/dp132507.pdf

  • Barrett, A., & Poikolainen, A. (2006). Food Stamp Program participation rates: 2004. Prepared by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. for the Food and Nutrition Service. Retrieved August 17, 2007, from http://www.fns.usda.gov/oane/MENU/Published/FSP/FILES/Participation/FSPPart2004.pdf

  • Bartlett, S., & Burstein, N. (2004, May). Food Stamp Program access study: Eligible nonparticipants. Prepared by Abt Associates, Inc. for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. Retrieved July 12, 2007, from http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/efan03013/efan03013-2/efan03013-2.pdf

  • Bean, F. D., Van Hook, J., & Glick, J. E. (1997). Country of origin, type of public assistance, and patterns of welfare recipiency among U.S. immigrants and natives. Social Science Quarterly, 78(2), 432–451.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, G. S. (1991). A treatise on the family. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blank, R. (2002). Evaluating welfare reform in the United States. Journal of Economic Literature, 40(4), 1105–1166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blank, R. M., & Ruggles, P. (1996). When do women use Aid to Families with Dependent Children and Food Stamps? The dynamics of eligibility versus participation. Journal of Human Resources, 31(1), 57–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borjas, G., & Hilton, L. (1996). Immigration and the welfare state: Immigrant participation in means-tested entitlement programs. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 111, 575–604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, S. L., & Booth, A. (1996). Cohabitation versus marriage: A comparison of relationship quality. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 58(3), 668–678.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cancian, M., Haveman, R., Kaplan, T., Meyer, D. Rothe, I., Wolfe, B., et al. (2001, June). The take-up of Medicaid and food stamps by welfare leavers: The case of Wisconsin (Special Report No. 79). Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin, Institute for Research on Poverty. Retrieved February 28, 2008, from http://www.irp.wisc.edu/publications/sr/pdfs/sr79.pdf

  • Capps, R. (2001, February). Hardship among children of immigrants: Findings from the 1999 National Survey of America’s Families (Series B, No. B-29). Washington, DC: Urban Institute.

  • Capps, R., Ku, L., & Fix, M. (2002). How are immigrants faring after welfare reform?. Washington, DC: Urban Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, M., McLanahan, S., & England, P. (2004). Union formation in Fragile Families. Demography, 41(2), 237–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carmody, K., & Dean, S. (1998). New federal food stamp restoration for legal immigrants: Implications and implementation issues. Washington, DC: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

    Google Scholar 

  • Center for Research on Child Wellbeing (CRCW). (2006). Scales documentation and question sources for the Fragile Families three-year follow-up. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coe, R. D., & Hill, D. H. (1998). Food stamp participation and reasons for nonparticipation: 1986. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 19(2), 107–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conger, R. D., & Elder, G. H., Jr. (1994). Families in troubled times: Adapting to change in rural America. New York: Aldine De Gruyter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunnyngham, K. (2002). Trends in Food Stamp Program participation rates: 1994 to 2000 (Report No. 8659-213). Washington DC: Mathematica Policy Research.

  • Currie, J. (2003). U.S. food and nutrition programs. In R. Moffitt (Ed.), Means-tested transfer programs in the United States (pp. 199–290). Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Currie, J., & Stabile, M. (2002). Socioeconomic status and health: Why is the relationship stronger for older children? (Working Paper No. 9098). Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research.

  • Daponte, B. O., Sanders, S., & Taylor, L. (1999). Why do low-income households now use food stamps? Evidence from an experiment. Journal of Human Resources, 34(3), 612–628.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edin, K., & Reed, J. M. (2005). Why don’t they just get married? Barriers to marriage among the disadvantaged. The Future of Children, 15(2), 117–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, M., Fishman, M., Langley, M., & Stapleton, D. (2003). The relationship of earnings and income to food stamp participation: A longitudinal analysis (E-FAN No. 03-011). Washington, DC: United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

  • Fix, M., & Passel, J. (1999). Trends in noncitizens’ and citizens’ use of public benefits following welfare reform (Urban Institute Research Report). Washington, DC: The Urban Institute.

  • Food & Nutrition Service. (2006). WIC program coverage: How many eligible individuals participated in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): 1994 to 2003? Retrieved January 5, 2007, from http://www.fns.usda.gov/oane/menu/Published/WIC/FILES/WICEligibles.pdf

  • Gleason, P., Schochet, P., & Moffitt, R. (1998). The dynamics of Food Stamp Program participation in the early 1990s. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research. Retrieved June 14, 2007, from http://www.fns.usda.gov/oane/MENU/Published/FSP/FILES/Participation/DYNAMICS.PDF

  • Kenney, C. (2003). Hardship in married and cohabiting parent households: Do cohabiting parents underinvest in household public goods? (Working Paper #2003-11-FF). Princeton, NJ: Center for Research on Child Wellbeing.

  • Kenney, C. (2004). Cohabiting couple, filing jointly? Resource pooling and U.S. poverty policies. Family Relations, 53(2), 237–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knab, J. T., Garfinkel, I., & McLanahan, S. (2008). The effects of welfare and child support policies on maternal health and wellbeing. In R. F. Schoeni, J. S. House, G. A. Kaplan, & H. Pollack (Eds.), Making Americans healthier: Social and economic policy as health policy (pp. 281–305). New York: Russell Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichter, D. T., Qian, Z.-C., & Mellott, L. (2006). Marriage or dissolution? Transitions to marriage among poor cohabiting women. Demography, 43(2), 223–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maloy, K. A., Darnell, J., Nolan, L., Kenney, K. A., & Cyprien, S. (2000). Effects of the 1996 welfare and immigration reform laws on the ability and willingness of immigrants to access Medicaid and health care services. Washington, DC: George Washington University, Center for Health Services Research and Policy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mauldin, T. A., & Mimura, Y. (2007). Marrying, unmarrying, and poverty dynamics among mothers with children living at home. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 28, 566–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, S. (1997). What money can’t buy. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McConnell, S. (1991). The increase in food stamp participation between 1989 and 1990. A Report to Congress. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research.

  • McConnell, S., & Nixon, L. (1996). Reaching the working poor and the poor elderly: Report on literature review and data analysis. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research.

  • McKernan, S.-M., & Ratcliffe, C. (2003). Employment factors influencing Food Stamp Program participation: Final report. Washington, DC: USDA, Economic Research Service.

  • Micklewright, J., & Schnepf, S. V. (2007, November). How reliable are income data collected with a single question? (IZA Discussion No. 3177). Retrieved March 2, 2008, from http://ssrn.com/abstract=1047981

  • Moffitt, R. (1983). An economic model of welfare stigma. American Economic Review, 73(5), 1023–1035.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nepomnyaschy, L. (2007). Child support and father–child contact: Testing reciprocal pathways. Demography, 44(1), 93–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newman, C. (2006, August). The income volatility see-saw: Implications for school lunch (Economic Research Report No. 23). Washington, DC: United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

  • Padilla, Y. C., Radey, M. D., Kim, E., & Hummer, R. A. (2006). The living conditions of U.S.-born children of Mexican immigrants in unmarried families. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 28(3), 331–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ponza, M., Ohls, J. C., Moreno, L., Zambrowski, A., & Cohen, R. (1999). Customer service in the Food Stamp Program: Final report. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research.

  • Quint, J., & Widom, R. (2001). Post-TANF food stamp and Medicaid benefits: Factors that aid or impede their receipt. New York: Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation. Retrieved October 10, 2006, from http://www.mdrc.org/publications/84/full.pdf

  • Reichman, N., Teitler, J., Garfinkel, I., & McLanahan, S. (2001). Fragile Families: Sample and design. Children and Youth Services Review, 23(4/5), 303–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenbaum, D., & Super, D. (2005). The Food Stamp Program, working smarter for working families. Washington, DC: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sassler, S., & McNally, J. (2003). Cohabiting couples economic circumstances and union transitions: A re-examination using multiple imputation techniques. Social Science Research, 32(4), 553–578.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schott, L., Dean, S., & Guyer, J. (2001). Coordinating Medicaid and Food Stamps: How new Food Stamp policies can reduce barriers to health care coverage for low-income working families. Washington, DC: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, A. R., & McLaughlin, D. K. (2006). Economic well-being and cohabitation: Another nonmetro disadvantage? Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 27, 562–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stets, J. (1991). Cohabiting and marital aggression: The role of social isolation. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 53, 669–680.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, J. A., Olson, C. M., Miller, E. O., & Lawrence, F. C. (2008). Rural mothers’ use of formal programs and informal social supports to meet family food needs: A mixed methods study. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 29(4), 674–690.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Treas, J., & Giesen, D. (2000). Sexual infidelity among married and cohabiting Americans. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 62, 48–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Bureau of the Census. (2001). 2000 census of population and housing, United States, profiles of general demographic characteristics. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2006). Local area unemployment statistics. Retrieved October 2, 2006, from http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost?la

  • U.S. Committee on Ways and Means. (1998). 1998 green book (Ways and Means Committee Print No. 105-7). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2009, July 6). Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Applicants and recipients. Retrieved July 6, 2009, from http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/applicant_recipients/apply.htm

  • Walters, E. E., Kessler, R. C., Nelson, C. B., & Mroczek, D. (2002). Scoring the World Health Organization’s Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form (CIDI-SF). Retrieved September 12, 2008, from http://cfspod.net/Document%20files/Poole/CIDISFScoringMemo12-03-02.pdf

  • Weagley, R. O., Chan, M.-L., & Yan, J. (2007). Married couples’ time allocation decisions and marital stability. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 28, 507–525.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeung, W. J., & Hofferth, S. L. (1998). Family adaptations to income and job loss in the U.S. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 19(3), 255–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeung, J., Linver, M., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2002). How money matters for young children’s development: Parental investment and family processes. Child Development, 73, 1861–1879.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshikawa, H., Lugo-Gil, J., Chaudry, A., & Tamis-LeMonda, C. (2005, April). How lower income immigrant parents in New York City learn about and navigate U.S. programs and policies for families and children. Paper presented at the biennial conference of the Society for Research in Child Development, Atlanta, GA.

  • Zedlewski, S., & Gruber, A. (2001, March). Former welfare families continue to leave the Food Stamp Program (ANF Discussion Paper No. 01-05). Washington, DC: The Urban Institute. Retrieved April 12, 2007, from http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/discussion01-05.pdf

  • Zimmerman, W., & Tumlin, K. (1999, May). Patchwork policies: State assistance for immigrants under welfare reform (Occasional Paper No. 24). Washington, DC: Urban Institute.

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank participants of the University of Michigan and USDA Research Conference “Income Volatility and Implications for Food Assistance Programs II,” along with Sheldon Danziger, Michael Rovine, and Steven Zarit for comments on earlier drafts. Dr. Hernandez acknowledges the Ford Foundation Research and Training Program on Poverty and Public Policy at the University of Michigan for supporting the research. Dr. Ziol-Guest acknowledges the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health and Society Scholars program for its financial support, and at the time of this study she was with the Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, S110 Henderson Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Daphne C. Hernandez

  2. Institute for Children and Poverty, 36 Cooper Square, 2nd Floor, New York, NY, 10003, USA

    Kathleen M. Ziol-Guest

Authors
  1. Daphne C. Hernandez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kathleen M. Ziol-Guest
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daphne C. Hernandez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hernandez, D.C., Ziol-Guest, K.M. Income Volatility and Family Structure Patterns: Association with Stability and Change in Food Stamp Program Participation. J Fam Econ Iss 30, 357–371 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-009-9168-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-009-9168-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation