The Short-run Effects of Monthly WIC Distributions

Especially among those in poverty, temporal variability in income causes negative effects across a variety of outcomes, including food security, health, and labor market behavior. Researchers have shown that monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) distributions result in 30-day cycles across these outcomes that can be improved by distributing SNAP in the middle of the month, smoothing incomes. The potential for analogous effects of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program has never been studied. Using exogenous variation in the monthly date on which individuals receive WIC benefits, we link individual-level state and federal administrative microdata to estimate: (1) the causal effects of days since WIC receipt within a 30-day period, and (2) the causal effects of the monthly distribution date across months. WIC recipients report 30-day cycles of food spending and food insecurity following WIC receipt. We find only limited evidence of reduced intensive labor market outcomes, e.g., by the 15th day since receiving WIC, recipients work 1.6 fewer hours per week (-4.9%). Controlling for these 30-day cycles, we then estimate (2) the causal effect of monthly distribution date. When incomes are smoothed by distributing WIC in the middle of the month, WIC recipient food spending is smoothed and food security improves.