Bill Overview
Title: Let's Get to Work Act of 2022
Description: This bill modifies and expands work requirements under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including by repealing the temporary suspension of work requirements due to COVID-19 that allowed participants who would have lost eligibility due to such requirements to continue to receive SNAP benefits. The bill also establishes work requirements for families residing in public housing and participating in low-income housing assistance programs by applying SNAP work requirements to such programs.
Sponsors: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Target Audience
Population: Participants in SNAP, public housing, and low-income housing affected by work requirements
Estimated Size: 30000000
- The SNAP program provides benefits to millions of low-income individuals and families across the United States, including those under temporary work requirement suspensions due to COVID-19.
- As of recent years, around 42 million people in the United States participate in the SNAP program, though not all are subject to work requirements. Typically, a segment of this population, such as able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) aged 18 to 49, are most directly impacted by work requirements.
- Families participating in public housing and low-income housing assistance programs will also be impacted by the newly applied work requirements, though this is a smaller subset than those participating in SNAP.
- Those not currently employed, able-bodied adults, or young adults aging into the work requirements would be most impacted due to losing eligibility if they do not meet the work criteria.
- The combined target population includes those directly affected by both the SNAP and housing work requirements; however, the degree of overlap or unique impact among these groups could vary.
Reasoning
- The population affected by this policy includes SNAP participants and families in public housing. Many in this group are low-income, and the policy introduces work requirements that could make some people ineligible if they cannot meet these requirements.
- The budget constraints indicate that while a large population is impacted, not everyone under SNAP or public housing will receive benefits that would mitigate loss of SNAP due to work requirements. This means the policy's reach is limited compared to the entire population eligible for SNAP and public housing benefits.
- Given the significant overlap between SNAP beneficiaries and public housing residents, several individuals may face dual impacts. Still, other factors like geographic location, economic conditions, and individual health situations will vary the degree of impact.
- The Cantril wellbeing scores simulate psychological and economic stability effects, notably where loss of benefits might critically affect recipients' perceived future security and current quality of life.
Simulated Interviews
unemployed (Detroit, MI)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rely on SNAP benefits to feed my children. Finding work is difficult right now, especially with no childcare support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
part-time retail worker (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I do some work, but increasing hours isn't always possible. I worry this will push me off assistance I need.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
freelancer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Freelance work is unpredictable. Losing SNAP would hurt during dry spells.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
disabled (Houston, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am thankful I am exempt, but I worry for others who may not be able to work.
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 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Luckily, I don't have to worry about work requirements due to my age.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
part-time student (Miami, FL)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Balancing work and school is challenging. More work hours could hinder my education.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
chef (New York, NY)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about losing access to SNAP, especially if my work hours get cut.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
seasonal worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My work is not steady. Losing SNAP could make it hard during the off-seasons.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
home care worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 49 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I try hard to keep up with work hours, but clients sometimes cancel, making it difficult.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
student (Orlando, FL)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Balancing a job and college is already a lot, more work could affect my studies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 2: $1100000000 (Low: $900000000, High: $1300000000)
Year 3: $1050000000 (Low: $850000000, High: $1250000000)
Year 5: $950000000 (Low: $700000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 10: $900000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 100: $500000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $800000000)
Key Considerations
- Enforcement of work requirements could reduce SNAP participation, affecting program costs and savings levels.
- The ability of impacted individuals to find employment or training programs is contingent upon local labor markets.
- The policy could face opposition due to potential disenfranchisement of low-income individuals unable to meet work requirements.