There is no conflict of interest.
Citation
Wheaton, L., Vericker, T., Schwabish, J., Anderson, T., Baier, K., Gasper, J., Sick, N., & Werner, K. (2021). The Impact of SNAP Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) Time Limit Reinstatement in Nine States. Urban Institute. [Colorado]
Highlights
- The study’s objective was to examine the impact of the time-limit reinstatement related to the work and Employment and Training (E&T) requirements of SNAP Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) on employment and earnings. This profile focuses on Colorado. The authors investigated similar research questions for other states, the profiles can be found here:
- The authors used a nonexperimental design to compare the outcomes of ABAWDs reinstatement of the time limit related to the work and a combination of work and E&T requirements on SNAP benefits. The primary data sources included quarterly earnings records from the Unemployment Insurance (UI) system provided by the state.
- The study found that reinstating the time limit related to a combination of work and E&T requirements on SNAP benefits was associated with decreased employment and earnings for ABAWD.
- This study receives a low evidence rating. This means we are not confident that the estimated effects are attributable to time-limit reinstatement related to the work and E&T requirements of SNAP ABAWD; other factors are likely to have contributed.
Intervention Examined
Time-limit Reinstatement of SNAP ABAWD
Features of the Intervention
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the most extensive food assistance program in the United States, providing benefits to low-income individuals and families to help them purchase food. The Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) intervention specifically targets SNAP participants who are between the ages of 18 and 49, physically and mentally fit for work, not pregnant, and living in households without children. These participants must meet specific work requirements to continue receiving benefits beyond three months within 36 months.
During the Great Recession, the work requirements for ABAWDs were suspended due to high unemployment rates and economic challenges, allowing affected individuals to receive SNAP benefits without meeting the work requirements. This suspension began with the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) in 2009 and continued in many states until economic conditions improved. In Colorado, the work requirements were reinstated by January 2016 in the remaining counties that had not yet enacted the time limit; five counties had reinstated the requirements earlier.
The ABAWD time limit intervention required able-bodied adults without dependents to work or participate in qualifying activities for at least 20 hours per week to continue receiving SNAP benefits beyond three months within 36 months. This intervention was implemented across two groups of counties: one group that already had mandatory Employment & Training (E&T) programs in place before the time limit was reinstated (called the “already with E&T”) and another group that introduced mandatory E&T simultaneously with the time limit (called the “starting E&T”). State agencies administered the intervention in collaboration with local employment and training organizations.
Features of the Study
The study used a nonexperimental design to compare the outcomes of ABAWD reinstatement of the time limit related to the work and a combination of work and E&T requirements on SNAP benefits. The authors compared SNAP and employment outcomes for two cohorts across two groups: the “already with E&T” group and the “starting E&T” group. The comparison cohort included ABAWDs participating in SNAP approximately one year and three months before the time limit related to the work requirement, with outcomes observed for the four quarters before reinstatement. The treatment cohort consisted of ABAWDs participating in SNAP three months before the time limit reinstatement, with outcomes observed for the four quarters after reinstatement. For the “starting E&T” group, the treatment cohort simultaneously implemented the ABAWD time limit and mandatory E&T. This design allowed for a quarterly comparison of results between the treatment and the corresponding quarter for the comparison cohort from the previous year, making it possible for the same individual to appear in both cohorts. The primary data sources included monthly administrative data from SNAP and quarterly earnings records from the Unemployment Insurance (UI) system provided by the state.
Findings
Employment
- Relative to the comparison groups, the probability of employment in the fourth quarter decreased four percentage points in the “already with E&T” group and six percentage points in the “starting E&T” group. All the results are statistically significant.
Earnings and wages
- Relative to the comparison groups, annual earnings decreased by $737 in the “already with E&T” group and $1,230 in the “starting E&T” group. All the results are statistically significant.
Considerations for Interpreting the Findings
The authors did not ensure that the groups being compared were similar in race/ethnicity and did not control for preexisting differences in the analyses as required by the CLEAR protocol. These preexisting differences between the groups—and not the time-limit reinstatement related to the work and E&T requirements of SNAP ABAWD—could explain the observed outcomes. Therefore, the study is not eligible for a moderate causal evidence rating.
Causal Evidence Rating
The quality of causal evidence presented in this report is low because the authors did not ensure that the groups being compared were similar before the intervention. This means we are not confident that the estimated effects are attributable to the time-limit reinstatement related to the work and E&T requirements of SNAP ABAWD; other factors are likely to have contributed.