What question did this study set out to answer?

The research investigates how transaction costs affect the enrollment and targeting of social safety net programs.

March 10, 2026Journal of Policy Analysis and Management0 citations

Transaction Costs and the Take‐Up of Social Safety Net Programs: Evidence From the Combined Application Project

Key Points

The research investigates how transaction costs affect the enrollment and targeting of social safety net programs.
Analyzed the Combined Application Project (CAP) policy designed for multi-program enrollment.
Examined the effect of CAP on SNAP take-up among elderly receiving Supplemental Security Income.
Studied variations in CAP implementation across different states.
CAP increased SNAP take-up by 8–13 percentage points, translating to 17%–24%.
Larger increases were observed among individuals more likely to experience food insecurity.
The auto-enrollment format was the most effective in increasing SNAP participation.

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper studies the effect of transaction costs on the take‐up and targeting of social safety net programs in the context of multi‐program enrollment by exploiting the Combined Application Project (CAP), a widespread state‐level policy designed to encourage enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) among elderly recipients of Supplemental Security Income. I show that the CAP increased SNAP take‐up by 8–13 percentage points, or about 17%–24%. The increase was suggestively larger among those with a higher probability of being food insecure. Exploiting heterogeneity in the format of the CAP across states, I find that “auto‐enrollment” most effectively increased SNAP take‐up.

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