SNAP Reform Shows Promising Results

Innovative work requirements have the potential to transform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from a program perpetuating poverty, to one fostering prosperity. Now, data released by the Department of Human Service affirms this outcome in Pennsylvania.  

A year after the March 2016 reinstatement of work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs), 30,000 Pennsylvanians have left the rolls of SNAP. The work rule requires healthy, able-bodied adults (ages 18-49) to work, volunteer, or attend education or job-training courses for just 20 hours a week in order to retain benefits beyond 3 months. It’s a disservice to insist these Pennsylvanians aren’t capable of supporting themselves.

The pathway out of poverty is work. Yet, benefits without work has become the new normal since the great recession – and it’s hamstringing families and our economy.

The pathway out of poverty is work. Yet, benefits without work has become the new normal since the great recession – and it’s hamstringing families and our economy.

Food stamp enrollment rose from 1.17 million in 2007-08 to 1.82 million at the peak of the recession in 2011-12. But today this number rests far above pre-recession levels at 1.86 million. Therefore, a reduction of 30,000 able-bodied adults is a minimal portion of Pennsylvania’s overall food stamp program, totaling just a 1.7% drop.

As a further case in point, and seen in the chart below, the able-bodied adult population enrolled in SNAP dropped 80% in Westmoreland and Blair Counties, yet the overall enrollment in those counties dropped just 2.89% and 2.96% respectively.

Unsurprisingly, the most significant enrollment changes occurred in the counties that reinstituted work requirements. In contrast, 43 counties continue to waive work requirements, based upon their unemployment numbers, meaning healthy adult SNAP recipients in 43 counties are completely exempted from work. The longer these adults stay out of the workforce the more difficult it will be for them to transition into jobs as unemployment numbers improve.

While this data neglects crucial indicators – such as the number of former recipients now employed, economically better off, or earning larger incomes – other states instituting work requirements have shown that former enrollees enjoyed higher incomes and better quality of life.

For instance, former Kansas SNAP recipients enjoyed an average 127% increase in income following strengthened work requirements. Meanwhile, caseloads dropped by 80% when Maine instituted SNAP work requirements.

We should celebrate policies that foster work, as that is the ultimate key to independence and meaningful success for Pennsylvanians.