Incentive effects of SNAP work requirements

Abstract

During the Great Recession, work requirements for various safety net programs were relaxed, and it has been argued that these contributed to high unemployment rates and long unemployment durations. One work requirement in the SNAP program applies to able-bodied adults without dependents, and is lifted when participants reach age 50. Using a regression discontinuity approach that removes bias from age rounding, this article finds no evidence the requirement affects the probability of compliant employment when the requirement is in place.