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“It’s Like Night and Day”: How Bureaucratic Encounters Vary across WIC, SNAP, and Medicaid

This study examines how bureaucratic interactions differ among public assistance programs—WIC, SNAP, and Medicaid—highlighting variations in participant experiences and the psychological costs associated with each.

Organizations: Social Service Review, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago

Authors: Carolyn Barnes, Jamila Michener, Emily Rains

Published Year: 2023

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The research, published in the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, explores the differing bureaucratic encounters participants face in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Medicaid.

Findings indicate that WIC participants often experience more supportive and less stigmatizing interactions compared to those in SNAP and Medicaid. These variations are attributed to program design, administrative practices, and frontline worker engagement, which collectively influence the psychological costs and overall experiences of beneficiaries. The study suggests that adopting practices from WIC could improve participant experiences in other public assistance programs.