Bill Overview
Title: ID for EBT Act of 2022
Description: This bill revises provisions related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to require states to include a photograph of one or more members of a household on electronic benefit cards that are issued to provide program benefits.
Sponsors: Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits
Estimated Size: 41000000
- The bill pertains to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides benefits to individuals with low income.
- In 2022, SNAP served approximately 41 million people in the United States each month.
- The bill requires the inclusion of a photograph of one or more household members on EBT cards.
- The primary group impacted will be current SNAP recipients who will need to adjust to this new requirement.
- Additional groups impacted include state agencies that will have to implement new processes, and retail establishments that accept EBT due to potential verification changes.
Reasoning
- The SNAP program serves a diverse group of individuals across the United States, including various age groups, locations, and occupations. The policy requiring photos on EBT cards would impact these individuals differently based on their personal circumstances, such as ease of access to photograph services or personal privacy concerns.
- The policy implementation costs, including issuing new cards and managing state-level logistics, must be within the allotted budget, making it crucial to evaluate how this can be efficiently carried out for roughly 41 million individuals.
- The impact on self-reported wellbeing will vary greatly depending on individual attitudes towards privacy, accessibility, and how actively they utilize SNAP benefits. For some, it might mean additional barriers, while others might not perceive a significant change.
- Importantly, some SNAP recipients are highly dependent on these benefits for their daily nutrition, so any perceived or real barriers could significantly affect their wellbeing. Others might see no change, especially if they are accustomed to identification requirements.
- Potential cost constraints might limit outreach and education efforts regarding the policy, impacting individuals differently based on their capacity to easily understand and adapt to the new requirements.
Simulated Interviews
retail worker (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a hassle to go and get a photo taken for my card because I can't afford to take a day off work.
- I worry about my privacy being compromised with my photo on the EBT card.
- If this makes it harder to get my benefits, I'm really concerned.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
construction worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think having my photo might help prevent fraud, but I'm not sure how to get it done with my schedule.
- Language barriers might be a problem if the information isn't clear in Spanish.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I mostly use my card at grocery stores, and I don't think the photo would make much difference.
- As a student, I already have ID requirements for other services, so it doesn’t bother me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
unemployed (Rural, IA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Getting a photo for my card is difficult because I have to travel far for services.
- It's another confusing change that I have to figure out.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
caregiver (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about the added step, but I understand the need to cut down on fraud.
- Hopefully, there'll be clear instructions and help available.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
part-time barista (Seattle, WA)
Age: 19 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I always have my ID on me, so having a photo on the EBT card seems redundant.
- For people who usually forget their ID, it might be helpful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about how complicated it will be to get a new card with my photo.
- Any extra travel for services is difficult because of my health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
graduate student (New York, NY)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I can easily upload a photo online if needed, but I'll miss whatever was set up last time.
- I believe it could be secure if done properly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
delivery driver (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If streamlined, this process could be quite straightforward.
- As long as no major disruptions happen, it shouldn't affect me much.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
retired (Boston, MA)
Age: 70 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don’t feel comfortable with my photo on everything, it's a privacy issue.
- But if it's easier identification, maybe I'll get used to it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $250000000)
Year 2: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 3: $30000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $50000000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $30000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $20000000)
Year 100: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Key Considerations
- 42 million SNAP beneficiaries will need new cards.
- State agencies will require system upgrades and potential staff increases.
- Retail operations accepting EBT cards might be affected with additional verification requirements.