Employed in a SNAP? The Impact of Work Requirements on Program Participation and Labor Supply
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Abstract
Work requirements are common in US safety net programs. Evidence remains limited, however, on the extent to which work requirements increase economic self-sufficiency or screen out vulnerable individuals. Using linked administrative data on food stamps (SNAP) and earnings with a regression discontinuity design, we find robust evidence that work requirements increase program exits by 23 percentage points (64 percent) among incumbent participants. Overall program participation among adults who are subject to work requirements is reduced by 53 percent. Homeless adults are disproportionately screened out. We find no effects on employment and suggestive evidence of increased earnings in some specifications.Citation
Gray, Colin, Adam Leive, Elena Prager, Kelsey Pukelis, and Mary Zaki. 2023. "Employed in a SNAP? The Impact of Work Requirements on Program Participation and Labor Supply." American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 15 (1): 306-41. DOI: 10.1257/pol.20200561Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- H75 State and Local Government: Health; Education; Welfare; Public Pensions
- I18 Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
- I32 Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
- I38 Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty: Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
- J22 Time Allocation and Labor Supply
- J31 Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
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