Barnes Carolyn, Petry Sarah
Duke University.
Public Adm Rev. 2021 Nov-Dec;81(6):1147-1156. doi: 10.1111/puar.13423. Epub 2021 Sep 9.
In recent years, scholars have examined the barriers to accessing public assistance benefits. Research identifies learning, compliance, and psychological costs as deterring program use. Compliance costs reflect the burdens of following program rules, which may entail providing documentation, responding to discretionary demands of bureaucrats, or attending appointments to maintain benefits. Studies identify one element of compliance costs-quarterly appointments-as a barrier to continued WIC participation. This article draws on 44 in-depth qualitative interviews with participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). We examine how WIC participants perceive the reduction of compliance costs following the implementation of remote appointments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. WIC participants report satisfaction with remote appointments and a reduction in the compliance costs of accessing and maintaining benefits. We conclude by recommending longer term changes to policy and practices to increase access and continuity in WIC receipt.
近年来，学者们研究了获取公共援助福利的障碍。研究表明，学习成本、合规成本和心理成本会阻碍人们使用该项目。合规成本反映了遵守项目规则的负担，这可能包括提供文件、回应官僚的酌情要求或参加预约以维持福利。研究将合规成本的一个要素——季度预约——确定为持续参与妇女、婴儿和儿童特别补充营养援助计划（WIC）的障碍。本文基于对妇女、婴儿和儿童特别补充营养援助计划（WIC）参与者的44次深入定性访谈。我们研究了WIC参与者如何看待在应对新冠疫情实施远程预约后合规成本的降低。WIC参与者报告了对远程预约的满意度以及获取和维持福利的合规成本的降低。我们最后建议对政策和做法进行长期变革，以增加WIC福利的获取和连续性。
