Working Paper: NBER ID: w31239
Authors: Eric Giannella; Tatiana Homonoff; Gwen Rino; Jason Somerville
Abstract: Many government program applications result in procedural denials due to administrative burdens associated with applying. We identify the intake interview as a key barrier to take-up of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and study the effect of an alternative application process designed to reduce burdens. Using a field experiment involving 65,000 Los Angeles applicants, we find that access to flexible interviews initiated by the applicant increases approvals by six percentage points, doubles early approvals, and increases long-term participation by over two percentage points. Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating flexibility when designing program integrity policies to minimize procedural denials.
Keywords: SNAP; Administrative Burden; Procedural Denials; Field Experiment
JEL Codes: H53; I38
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Flexible Interviews (C99) | SNAP Approval Rates (I38) |
| Flexible Interviews (C99) | Long-term Participation (J22) |
| Flexible Interviews (C99) | Participation in SNAP (H53) |
| Flexible Interviews (C99) | Early Approvals (Y20) |
| Demand Surge (R22) | Treatment Effect (C22) |
| Interview Flexibility (C83) | Targeting Effectiveness (C52) |