National and State-Level Estimates of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Eligibles and Program Reach, 2013

United States Department of Agriculture Nutrition Assistance Program Report Series Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support Special Nutrition Programs Report No. WIC-15B-ELIG Volume I National and State-Level Estimates of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Eligibles and Program Reach, 2013 Final Report December 2015 USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. December 2015 Special Nutrition Programs Report No. WIC-15B-ELIG Volume I National and State-Level Estimates of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Eligibles and Program Reach, 2013 Final Report Authors: Paul Johnson Erika Huber Linda Giannarelli David Betson Submitted by: The Urban Institute 2100 M Street, NW Washington, DC 20037 Project Director: Linda Giannarelli Submitted to: Office of Policy Support Food and Nutrition Service 3101 Park Center Drive Alexandria, VA 22302-1500 Project Officer: Grant Lovellette The opinions expressed reflect those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Urban Institute. This study was conducted under Contract number AG-3198-B-10-0016 with the Food and Nutrition Service. This report is available on the Food and Nutrition Service web site: http://www.fns.usda.gov/research-and-analysis. Suggested Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support. National and State-Level Estimates of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Eligibles and Program Reach, 2013, by Paul Johnson, Erika Huber, Linda Giannarelli, and David Betson. Project Officer: Grant Lovellette. Alexandria, VA: December 2015. United States Department of Agriculture This page was left intentionally blank. Acknowledgements The authors gratefully acknowledge the guidance provided by FNS staff and other Urban Institute staff. Grant Lovellette, the FNS project officer, provided guidance throughout the project. Staff of the WIC Division of FNS have provided insights and review over the course of the project. Sheila Zedlewski directed the first two years of the project and guided the initial phases of work on the 2011 estimates. Michael Martinez-Schiferl was the lead analyst on this work for the first two years of the project and developed the technical framework used for these estimates. This page was left intentionally blank. Contents VOLUME I Executive Summary i Methods i Results ii How Many People Were Eligible for WIC in the Average Month of 2013, and What Portion Received Benefits? ii Did WIC Eligibility Change from 2012 to 2013? iii Since 2000, How Has Eligibility Changed On Average? iv How does the Coverage Rate Vary over Time? v Has the Coverage Rate Changed Since 2012? vii How does the Coverage Rate Vary across Regions of the Country? vii Summary viii Introduction 1 Overview of Methods for Estimates for 2013 2 National Estimates 2 Infants and Children, Initial and Adjusted Counts 2 Infants and Children, Eligibility Estimates and Further Adjustments 5 Pregnant and Postpartum Women 8 Territories 10 States 11 National Eligibility Estimates: 2013 13 Characteristics of WIC Eligibles in the U.S. 17 Territories 19 Comparing 2013 to 2012 23 Regional and State Estimates of WIC Eligibility: 2013 27 Distribution of WIC Eligibles 27 WIC Eligibility Rates across States and Regions 29 WIC Coverage Rate 30 WIC Coverage Rates in 2013 30 WIC Coverage Rate Changes from 2012 to 2013 37 WIC Coverage Rates Since 2000 38 Measures of Precision of the Estimates of Eligibility 51 Validating the Results 56 Summary 56 References 58 VOLUME II Appendix A: Detailed National and Territorial Tables 2013 Appendix B: State Estimates: 2013 Appendix C: Coverage Rate Maps Appendix D: Eligibles and Coverage Rate Time Series by FNS Region: 2000-2013 Appendix E: Method for Calculating the Annual-to-Monthly Adjustment Factors Applied to Children in the 2013 WIC Eligibility Estimates Figures and Tables Exhibit ES.1: WIC National-Level Eligibles and Coverage Rates by Participant Group in an Average Month: CY 2013 ............................................................................................................................................................. iii Exhibit ES.2: Estimates of the Average Monthly Number of Individuals Eligible for WIC by Participant Group: A Comparison of the Change from Calendar Year 2012 to 2013 ........................... iv Exhibit ES.3: Growth in WIC Eligible Population, 2000-2013 ........................................................................ v Exhibit ES.4: Coverage Rate: Percent of Eligible Population Receiving WIC Benefits, CY 2000 to CY 2013 ..............................................................................