SNAP HELPS MILLIONS OF LOW-WAGE WORKERS

SNAP, the nation’s largest anti-hunger program provides millions of workers with income to help feed their families.  The share of all households with earnings in an average month while participating in SNAP rose from 19% in 1990 to 32% in 2015.  Among households with children and a non-elderly, non-disabled adult, about 60% have earnings while participating in SNAP. Most workers who participate in SNAP are in service occupations (e.g., home health aides or cooks), administrative support occupations (e.g., customer service representatives), and sales occupations (e.g., cashiers). These occupations pay wages close to or below the poverty threshold for a family of three. Low-paying jobs often have scheduling practices that contribute to workers’ low and volatile incomes, plus create barriers to retaining employment and career advancement  by making it harder to arrange child care, search for a new job, or attend school or training. And most low-wage jobs lack benefits such as paid sick leave and health insurance.

Source: Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 5/10/17, Workers in SNAP