New Research: Stricter SNAP Eligibility Rules Don’t Increase Employment — but Do Increase Hardship 

A new report from the Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution adds to a growing body of evidence: Stricter SNAP eligibility rules around work do not meaningfully increase employment, but they do reduce access to food assistance. 

Researchers reviewed multiple economic studies that used rigorous, quasi-experimental methods to isolate the impact of these policies. Across those studies, the findings are consistent. Stricter SNAP eligibility rules around work do not lead to sustained employment gains. Instead, they result in a significant drop in SNAP participation. 

In other words, the primary outcome is not more people working — it is fewer people receiving help. 

What changed under recent federal policy 

These findings come at a critical moment for Arizona. 

H.R. 1 made significant changes to SNAP — expanding who is subject to stricter eligibility rules while limiting states’ ability to respond to local economic conditions. 

SNAP eligibility requirements operate in two main ways: 

• General Requirements apply to most adults ages 16–59 (with certain exemptions). These include registering for work, accepting suitable employment, and not voluntarily reducing work hours below 30 per week without good cause. 

• Stricter Requirements for Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) impose tighter limits. Individuals can only receive SNAP for three months unless they meet additional conditions, such as working or participating in approved activities for at least 80 hours per month. 

H.R. 1 expanded these restrictions significantly: 

• Extending the age range from 18-59 to 18-64  

• Eliminating key exemptions for individuals experiencing homelessness, veterans, and young adults aging out of foster care  

• Applying these stricter rules to some adults with dependents ages 14-18  

At the same time, the law sharply limited area-level waivers, which previously allowed states to suspend these requirements in areas without sufficient job opportunities. 

Prior to these changes, nearly every county in Arizona qualified for a waiver. Today, only Yuma County does. 

Who these policies actually affect 

These policies are often framed as targeting individuals who are not working. In practice, they frequently impact people with unstable and inconsistent employment — workers with fluctuating hours, seasonal jobs, or caregiving responsibilities. 

These are individuals who are already navigating economic uncertainty. 

When benefits are cut off, the consequences ripple quickly. Households that are income- and credit-constrained may fall behind on rent, miss utility payments, or take on debt. That, in turn, can increase the risk of eviction, financial instability, and even job loss. 

Rather than promoting stability, stricter SNAP eligibility rules can end up making it harder for families to stay afloat. 

Arizona already seeing the impact 

These policy changes are taking effect as Arizona is already experiencing a sharp decline in SNAP participation. 

Between July 2025 and March 2026, the state lost nearly half of its SNAP participants — the largest decline in the nation. That loss reflects not improved economic stability but reduced access to assistance during a time of unaffordability. 

At the same time, broader economic signals point to growing strain. Arizona’s unemployment rate has increased to 4.7 percent, and many households continue to face high costs for housing, food, and utilities. 

While top-line indicators — such as strong investment in artificial intelligence, elevated asset prices, and spending among higher-income households — may suggest economic strength, they can mask deeper fragility for low- and moderate-income families. 

A policy that can weaken the economy 

The effects extend beyond individual households. 

When families lose SNAP, they lose purchasing power — not just for food, but for other essentials. That reduction in spending can slow local economies, reduce tax revenues, and increase demand for other public services. 

At a time when many households are already struggling, these policies risk increasing economic fragility — especially during a slowdown. 

AZCenter has previously highlighted how limiting state flexibility, including the loss of area-level waivers, could weaken Arizona’s ability to respond to economic downturns. The latest evidence reinforces that concern. 

Fewer benefits, not more opportunity 

The takeaway is clear. 

These stricter eligibility rules do not significantly increase employment. But they do increase hardship — by cutting off access to food assistance for people who are often already working or trying to find stable work. 

As Arizona continues to see steep declines in SNAP participation, these policies risk accelerating a trend that is already putting pressure on families and communities across the state. 

The consequences of these policies don’t stop at food access. When families lose SNAP, they lose the ability to stay current on rent, utilities, and other essentials — pushing more households toward eviction. That connection is already playing out in Arizona, where steep SNAP losses are colliding with a growing eviction crisis. Read more.