From Paper to Plastic: Understanding the Impact of Ewic on WIC Recipient Behavior

31 Pages Posted: 8 Oct 2018 Last revised: 1 Sep 2024

See all articles by Andrew Hanks

Andrew Hanks

The Ohio State University

Carolyn Gunther

Ohio State University (OSU)

Dean R. Lillard

Ohio State University (OSU) - Department of Human Sciences

Robert L. Scharff

Ohio State University - Department of Consumer Sciences

Date Written: October 2018

Abstract

Evidence shows that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is underutilized. WIC enrolls only sixty percent of eligible persons. Participants claim only a fraction of available benefits. Researchers suggest that people underutilize WIC because of the time needed to enroll in and use WIC and because participants may believe that, if others notice them participating in WIC, community members will stigmatize them. Recently enacted policies may reduce both time costs and potential for stigma associated with WIC. Congress mandated that, by 2020, all states disburse WIC benefits through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (eWIC) system. The eWIC potentially reduces the time required for each transaction and makes it more difficult to identify beneficiaries. We analyze data on grocery expenditures of 11,887 WIC-participating households in one state over the period it implemented eWIC. We find that, after beneficiaries began redeeming WIC benefits through eWIC, spending on non-WIC eligible foods did not change but redemptions of WIC benefits increased.

Suggested Citation

Hanks, Andrew and Gunther, Carolyn and Lillard, Dean R. and Scharff, Robert L., From Paper to Plastic: Understanding the Impact of Ewic on WIC Recipient Behavior (October 2018). NBER Working Paper No. w25131, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3262394

Andrew Hanks (Contact Author)

The Ohio State University ( email )

130A Campbell Hall
1787 Neil Ave.
Columbus, OH OH 43210
United States

Carolyn Gunther

Ohio State University (OSU) ( email )

Blankenship Hall-2010
901 Woody Hayes Drive
Columbus, OH OH 43210
United States

Dean R. Lillard

Ohio State University (OSU) - Department of Human Sciences ( email )

United States

Robert L. Scharff

Ohio State University - Department of Consumer Sciences ( email )

Columbus, OH 43210
United States
614-292-4549 (Phone)

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