Before February 2010, Illinois delivered food stamps under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on the first day of every month.
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Researchers may have found a simple way to reduce grocery store thefts
Changing the food stamp payment schedule could seriously cut thefts.
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Then the state decided to spread distribution more evenly throughout the month.
The decision had two main benefits. Stores weren't hit with massive crowds all at once, and SNAP officials weren't burdened with a large workload.
New research suggests that there could be an additional advantage of the change: a reduction in grocery store thefts.
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In the US, approximately 45.4 million people
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