Exploring the Impact of the Restaurant Meals Program on SNAP Uptake by Elderly Populations

Xiaoyi Chi

No 360880, 2025 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2025, Denver, CO from Agricultural and Applied Economics Association

Abstract: This paper examines the impact of California’s statewide expansion of the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation among older households. Using a Difference-in-Differences-in-Differences (DDD) methodology, the study finds that the RMP increased SNAP take-up by 2.6 percentage points, representing a 21.7% increase from the pre-policy participation rate. The analysis reveals significant heterogeneity, with younger seniors (aged 60–69) and counties with higher restaurant-to-population ratios experiencing the largest gains. While the RMP appears effective at reducing barriers to food access, its impact on participants’ overall well-being and nutrition remains a critical area for future research.

Keywords: Food; Security; and; Poverty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 23
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:aaea25:360880

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.360880

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