In a skeleton list of demands for White House concessions over the federal debt limit, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Monday that Republicans “would restore work requirements that ensure able-bodied adults without dependents earn a paycheck and learn new skills.” McCarthy did not specify which federal programs he meant but SNAP usually limits so-called ABAWDs to 90 days of benefits in a three-year period unless they work at least 20 hours a week.
House Republicans have tried repeatedly over the past decade to restrict SNAP eligibility as part of farm bill deliberations, with a particular emphasis on working-age adults. They could circumvent Democratic opposition in Congress if they succeed in linking the issue to an agreement to increase the debt ceiling. If not, they would still have the opportunity to push for tougher work requirements during debate on the 2023 farm bill later this year.
McCarthy said the House Republican debt limit plan is to “lift the debt ceiling into next year,” reduce federal spending to 2022 levels and then allow a 1 percent a year increase for the next 10 years, and claw back unspent pandemic-relief funds. “This will restore discipline in Washington,” he said during a speech at the New York Stock Exchange. Medicare and Social Security would be exempt from cuts.
“Our proposal will also restore work requirements that ensure able-bodied adults without dependents earn and learn new skills,” said McCarthy. “That will grow our economy and help the supply chain.”
“The ransom note that Speaker McCarthy unveiled in front of a crowd of Wall Street bankers today is dead on arrival,” said Georgia Rep. David Scott, the senior Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee. “Republican attempts to punish low-income families to pay for tax cuts they pushed through under President Trump will not result in self-sufficiency; it will only drastically increase hunger for our American people.”
The 90-day limit on SNAP benefits for ABAWDs was suspended during the pandemic. The cut-off will be in force again in July, following the May 11 expiration of the coronavirus public health emergency.
Work requirements have been proposed for SNAP and Medicaid but have not been helpful in the past, said Sharon Parrott, head of the think tank Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “The policy takes basic food assistance away from people with extremely low incomes and doesn’t boost their employment,” she said.
“And when Arkansas temporarily imposed a requirement in Medicaid during the Trump Administration, large numbers of people lost health coverage and there was no increase in employment, research showed.”
Six million people would be affected by a bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson that would expand the reach of the 90-day limit to ABAWDs ages 18-59. Currently, ABAWDs aged 18-49 are covered. Johnson’s bill also would eliminate state waivers of the time limit where there are insufficient jobs in a region.
Besides the work requirements for ABAWDs, SNAP recipients of working age are obliged to register for work and accept a suitable job if offered.
Critics say the ABAWD work requirement can be a paperwork headache because recipients have to document their work hours on a frequent basis and there is the possibility of losing benefits if a report is mislaid or late in arriving.
To watch a video of McCarthy’s speech or to read the prepared remarks, click here.