Bill Overview
Title: Stop Disincentivizing Work Act
Description: This bill prohibits the use of funding available through specified federal COVID-19 relief laws and appropriations acts for recurring cash assistance programs to individuals or households.
Sponsors: Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals or households benefiting from cash assistance due to COVID-19 relief
Estimated Size: 65000000
- The bill targets recurring cash assistance programs which were augmented under federal COVID-19 relief laws.
- The American Rescue Plan Act and the CARES Act were some of the major COVID-19 relief laws that provided funds for cash assistance.
- Many cash assistance programs supported people experiencing poverty or financial hardship triggered by the pandemic.
- According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were several million households benefiting from various relief plans, especially those at or below the poverty line.
- Globally, similar relief initiatives were enacted in various countries, but the bill specifically targets U.S. federal funding mechanisms.
Reasoning
- The policy focuses on prohibiting recurring cash assistance derived from past COVID-19 relief packages, impacting households dependent on such supports.
- In the U.S., a significant portion of people affected by this policy will be those relying on enhanced unemployment benefits and specific cash relief programs aimed at countering the financial hit from the pandemic.
- People living at or below the poverty line, marginalized groups, and those who lost jobs during COVID-19 are likely to see the most impact.
- Participants from various demographics like urban, suburban, and rural will give a wider perspective.
- Since the policy operates under a substantial but finite budget, it limits how many people can be effectively studied or impacted in early years, although its future reach might expand.
Simulated Interviews
retail worker (New York City, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rely on cash assistance to make ends meet, especially as hours were cut during the pandemic.
- Without this assistance, I fear not being able to cover rent and necessities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
part-time factory worker (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The cash assistance is crucial for my family's survival, especially with reduced job hours.
- I worry the policy will make life harder for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
freelance artist (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The assistance has helped stabilize my finances as gigs were scarce during the pandemic.
- If it's discontinued, I may need to take less predictable and lower-paid work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
unemployed (Miami, FL)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The assistance is one of the things keeping me afloat while I look for new opportunities.
- I'm concerned the policy will remove crucial support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
service industry (Chicago, IL)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The extra money has really helped with covering basic needs.
- If removed, it might push us back into financial instability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
nurse (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Although I kept working, my partner's job loss affected us financially.
- Losing assistance could make future challenges tougher.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
semi-retired consultant (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The assistance added to my financial stability in transitioning during the pandemic.
- Losing it wouldn't be catastrophic but challenging.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
graduate student (Portland, OR)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The funds helped cover unexpected fees and cost of living during COVID-19.
- Policy change might lead to more debt or taking additional part-time work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
small business owner (Detroit, MI)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Assistance was essential after closing my business during the pandemic.
- Policy could push us further into our savings without it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
software engineer (Boston, MA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven’t relied on cash assistance as much compared to others.
- Policy change won't affect me directly but might affect the economy in general.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Key Considerations
- Immediate economic relief measures might be needed to support affected households.
- Potential political and public backlash due to perceived deficient social safety nets.
- The shift could create pressure on state and local governments to address shortfalls.
- Long-term impacts depend on reallocation efficiency of saved resources.