We are pleased to announce that Insight Policy Research was acquired by Westat, effective June 15, 2022. Branded as “Westat Insight,” we are currently operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Westat and continue to provide our clients with the best-in-class services they have come to expect. Our combined experience now offers expanded expertise in health, education, and social policy as well as deeper methodological skills in survey research, evaluation, data analytics, and technical assistance. Learn more here.
We are pleased to announce that Insight Policy Research was acquired by Westat, effective June 15, 2022. Branded as “Westat Insight,” we are currently operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Westat and continue to provide our clients with the best-in-class services they have come to expect. Our combined experience now offers expanded expertise in health, education, and social policy as well as deeper methodological skills in survey research, evaluation, data analytics, and technical assistance. Learn more here.
powered by bulletin
Careers Contact Us
Menu

703-504-9480

Feasibility Study on Implementing SNAP in Puerto Rico: Implementation Plan

Insight food and nutrition experts developed an implementation plan describing the steps Puerto Rico and FNS must take to design and implement SNAP in Puerto Rico. The plan includes estimates of the timeline and costs for implementation. Given the unprecedented requirement of starting SNAP from scratch, the study team estimated that full implementation compliant with current SNAP rules and regulations could take up to 10 years to achieve. The study team also estimated that SNAP would serve approximately 860,000 households in Puerto Rico, a 19.0% increase over Puerto Rico’s current Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) and implementation would cost between $300 and $400 million (over 84% dedicated to developing compliant data systems).

The study team drew on several data sources to inform the implementation plan: (1) an environmental scan and document review; (2) interviews with FNS staff from the National Office and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office; and (3) interviews with ADSEF staff and other stakeholders in Puerto Rico, including authorized NAP retailers, the Financial Oversight and Management Board, community-based organizations, employers, partner government agencies, and emergency management partners. Additionally, the study team:

  • calculated participation estimates using a microsimulation model that applied SNAP eligibility requirement parameters to 2019 Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS) data. We then applied assumptions about likely participation rates to estimate the number of SNAP participants and resultant caseworkers needed.
  • estimated the costs of SNAP implementation using extant information regarding ADSEF labor, FNS labor, consultants, data systems development, and other direct costs such as translation of program materials and a public communications campaign.
  • estimated the ongoing SNAP administrative costs using annual SNAP administration costs across 10 administrative functions from a set of State agencies with caseload sizes, service delivery models, and policy options similar to what is expected in Puerto Rico.