Few adult food stamp recipients work, even those subject to work requirements (which are too often waived).
In FY 2019, only 28.6 percent of food stamp households had any earned income, while 71.4 percent had no earned income.
The percentage of households with earned income has increased since work requirements first went into effect in 1997, rising from an average of 20.4 percent between 1990-1995 to an average of 30.9 over the 2014-2019 period.
Work is an important value that is vital to human flourishing for individuals, families, communities, and the United States. The food stamp program provides billions of dollars in benefits to millions of work-capable people each year. Unfortunately, the food stamp program undermines work and traps too many people in dependency, rather than promoting opportunity.
