WIC Participants’ Perceptions of the Cash-Value Benefit Increase during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Recent changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Cash-Value Benefit (CVB), which provides participants with money to spend on fruits and vegetables, have the potential to reduce disparities in healthy food access and food insecurity that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, few studies have examined how the changes to the CVB allotment that occurred during the pandemic influenced WIC participants’ perceptions of the benefit or their fruit and vegetable purchasing and consumption. To address this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 51 WIC participants in Wilmington, Delaware. Survey measures included demographic questions, the Hunger Vital Sign food insecurity screener, and open-ended questions regarding perceptions of the CVB increase and its influence on participants’ fruit and vegetable purchasing and consumption. Data were analyzed using a hybrid inductive and deductive coding approach. The results demonstrate that higher CVB allotments increased WIC participants’ purchasing and consumption of fruits and vegetables, increased the frequency of their shopping occasions, and enhanced their dietary variety. Our findings also suggest that WIC participants highly value the increased CVB. Consequently, maintaining the increased CVB allotment could improve the nutritional outcomes of low-income mothers, infants, and children participating in WIC.

Caregivers’ Perceived Impact of WIC’s Temporary Cash-Value Benefit (CVB) Increases on Fruit and Vegetable Purchasing, Consumption, and Access in Massachusetts

“…These findings align with those recently reported from studies conducted in other states, with unique retail contexts and diverse participant needs [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. Studies to date on caregiver perceptions of this temporary increase demonstrate a consensus: WIC caregivers associate this increase in CVB with an increase in FV purchasing and consumption, as well as an increase in satisfaction with the WIC food package [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”

“…These findings align with those recently reported from studies conducted in other states, with unique retail contexts and diverse participant needs [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. Studies to date on caregiver perceptions of this temporary increase demonstrate a consensus: WIC caregivers associate this increase in CVB with an increase in FV purchasing and consumption, as well as an increase in satisfaction with the WIC food package [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. CVB may thus serve not only as a nutrition policy tool for increasing FV consumption among households at high risk of low FV consumption due to cost and access, but CVB may also as a strategic target for policy and advocacy efforts in addressing suboptimal WIC retention and redemption [ 32 ].…”

“…Few differences in the probability of reporting improved outcomes were observed by race/ethnicity, market access, or food security status, though future research is necessary to confirm. These preliminary findings add to a growing body of literature in support of making this temporary benefit enhancement permanent [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], as a means of ensuring that the WIC food package continues to meet the evolving needs of low-income women, infants, and children in the United States.…”

“…Recent studies in California [ 25 , 26 ], North Carolina [ 27 ], and Delaware [ 28 ] suggest that this temporary increase is highly valued by WIC caregivers and may be linked with improvements in FV affordability, purchasing, and consumption, as well as overall WIC satisfaction. However, research on the perceived impact of this emergent temporary increase remains limited to mostly qualitative studies [ 25 , 27 , 28 ]. It is also unclear whether any potential benefits or impacts of the CVB increase may have been mitigated by structural inequities in access to FV.…”

Pandemic-Era WIC Participation in Wilmington, Delaware: Participants’ Experiences and Challenges

“…Between March and June of 2022, we recruited 53 WIC-eligible individuals from Wilmington, Delaware, via study flyer distribution at a large regional supermarket chain, community-based partner organizations, childcare centers, and churches [ 35 ]. The eligibility criteria for the study were as follows: Delaware resident, at least 18 years of age, English-speaking, contribute to household food purchasing, and participated in the WIC program between March 2020 and June 2022.…”