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ScholarWorks > HHS > Social Work > JSSW > Vol. 49 > Iss. 3 (2022)

 

Keywords

Refugees, Resettled, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP), English proficiency, and Physical/mental health conditions, United States

Abstract

In the United States, SNAP was made available to refugees in 1977, and most refugees rely heavily on SNAP to sustain themselves before becoming self-reliant. Knowledge of sociodemographic factors and chronic debilitating conditions related to receiving SNAP benefits among refugees is limited. This study aimed to examine sociodemographic factors and chronic debilitating conditions associated with receiving SNAP benefits among refugees resettled in the United States. This study used a cross-sectional, nationally representative sample (n=6,100) of the refugees who entered the U.S. between 2013 and 2017. The data were obtained from the 2018 Annual Survey of Refugees (ASR) from participants aged 16 years or older who completed telephone interviews. The associations between receiving SNAP benefits (no/yes), and sociodemographic factors and chronic debilitating conditions were examined using logistic regression analysis. The main results showed that female gender, having an Iraq or Somalian refugee status, entering the United States between 2015 and 2017 or later, and having chronic debilitating conditions were associated with a higher likelihood of receiving SNAP benefits. Additionally, refugees whose English proficiency was "poor", aged 18 to 55 or older, unmarried, employed and resettled in the South, Midwest, or West were associated with a lower likelihood of receiving SNAP benefits. SNAP helps many refugees to receive nutrition assistance during their early resettlement phase. Participating in English and other empowering programs can lead to knowledge about available public programs, but limited English may slow integration and lead to lower income and continuous dependence on public programs, such as SNAP.

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