Expanded Work Rules: Protecting Access for SNAP-Medicaid Enrollees

About 4.6 million adults ages 50 to 64 participate in both Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help them afford health care and food costs. Recent policy changes will require many of these enrollees to meet new or expanded work requirements in both programs, increasing administrative complexity and the risk of benefit loss. 

Many midlife adults face barriers to meeting these requirements, including having disabilities, caregiving responsibilities, or unstable or limited work hours. Both federal and state policy action is needed to prevent the expanded work requirements from causing SNAP and Medicaid benefit loss and ensure those eligible for these programs are able to access benefits. See the full report for discussion of the findings and policy options.

Key Takeaways:

• About 4.6 million adults ages 50 to 64 participate in both Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 
• Work requirements pose burdens on midlife enrollees, many of whom have work-limiting disabilities or do not meet the work-hour requirements. 
• State efforts to align and streamline work requirement processes could reduce administrative burden, mitigate benefit loss, and lower state costs.