The Use of Microsimulation in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Policy Analysis

Contract #: AG-3198-B-11-0003
Client: Food and Nutrition Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture 

To assess how proposed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) policy reforms may affect program eligibility, participation, and costs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) uses microsimulation models.  These models process secondary data along with SNAP administrative data to assess how changes in SNAP eligibility rules affect would affect program participation and eligibility at the state and national level.  The same models are used to estimate changes in total program costs as a result of policy reform. 

IMPAQ was awarded a Blanket Purchasing Agreement (BPA) for supporting FNS in: 1) maintaining, improving, and enhancing the microsimulation models, 2) updating, maintaining, and enhancing the data sources used by the models, 3) using the models to produce simulations, tabulations, and other SNAP-related research, and 4) supporting use of the microsimulation models by hosting the models and data sources in a secure environment, providing access to authorized users, and providing user training to FNS staff.