Policy Recommendations for the Future

Policy Recommendations for Congress

1. Extend P-EBT through fiscal year 2021. As the pandemic may require social distancing practices to continue through the next year, P-EBT should be extended through the next fiscal year to support families. Also, additional flexibility in the legislative language is necessary to ensure that students attending schools that are in session a few days a week still have access to the resources they need. To limit the amount of administrative work on the part of families, schools, and states, the full P-EBT amount should be allocated through 2021 so that additional school closures do not lead to interruptions in food access for children.
2. Provide funding to improve data sharing and data infrastructure at the state level. One of the reasons this program was successful in Michigan was that data was being shared by schools with the Department of Education. Ensuring other states have the resources to build this infrastructure will help facilitate success in the future. Congress could appropriate funds specifically for upgrading this infrastructure. Alternatively, private philanthropy could fund data fellows within states to help modernize data infrastructure. This process should include reducing the amount of data that is collected to the minimum required, sharing systems across agencies, and harmonizing as many data fields as possible.
3. Reduce administrative burdens wherever possible. FNS and the states should prioritize broad access to P-EBT. Limiting recertification requirements and providing only one benefit level simplified the administration of Michigan’s program, which contributed to its success. Emphasizing access and simplicity in execution will reduce barriers both for states and for families. Families who are hit by the economic crisis and never received benefits before might have difficulty navigating this process. Administrative burdens should not stand in the way of supporting and effectively serving families.
4. Increase benefit levels overall. For families that were already receiving SNAP, P-EBT benefits have been a critical lifeline. As food prices continue to rise, increasing benefits overall will protect children and families from experiencing hunger. These families are already facing difficult circumstances, and increasing food budgets is one way to make sure they are not left in need. FNS should authorize food benefits at the moderate-cost level as opposed to the thrifty meal plan to ensure that families can adapt to changing food prices throughout the pandemic.

Policy Recommendations for the States

1. States should create procedures for data collection and cleaning. One problem for Michigan’s P-EBT distribution was that the data from the Department of Education was not quite as accurate as the data needed by DHHS. States should establish consistent data standards across departments and look to best practices to streamline and simplify the process. Ensuring similar data standards across departments will ease data sharing in the future.
2. States should start investing in data sharing agreements and data sharing infrastructure. Michigan was able to successfully roll out this program because of a 20 year investment in cross-agency partnerships and data sharing. It takes time to establish these relationships, and beginning the process in other states today will ensure that they are better able to address the next crisis.