SNAP recipients are working yet struggling to get by A common misconception is that SNAP recipients are not engaged in the labor market; however, Poverty Tracker data shows that this is not the case. Figure 3 examines labor market engagement among working- age SNAP recipients, with working age defined as ages 25-64. 12 Between 2022 and 2024, more than half (54%) of working-age (25-64) adult SNAP recipients reported working or living with a spouse or partner who worked at some point in the year they received benefits (Figure 4.3). Roughly 1 in 3 (33%) working-age adult recipients worked for the full year, 15% worked for part of the year, and 6% had a spouse or partner who worked. Among those not engaged in the labor market, most had a work-limiting disability or were in poor health , representing 40% of all working-age SNAP recipients. Just 5% of working-age adults were not working, did not have a working partner in the year that they received benefits, and were not experiencing a work-limiting health condition. Average engagement in labor market among working-age adult SNAP recipients in New York City (2022-2024) Figure 3
All working-age SNAP recipients
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Worked full-year (11 to 12 months)
33%
15%
Worked part-year (1 to 10 months)
6%
Has working spouse or partner Had work-limiting health problem or poor health and did not work Not working in past 12 months
41%
5%
Source: Annual Poverty Tracker survey data, second through sixth Poverty Tracker cohorts. Note: Results based on three-year average of 2022, 2023, and 2024 data.
In addition to asking about recipients’ engagement with the labor market, the Poverty Tracker collects data on their wages. These data shed light on why employment alone does not guarantee that an individual will not need to rely on nutrition assistance to put food on the table. We find that the vast majority of working adults receiving SNAP (85%) are earning less than $25 per hour (Figure 4). In comparison, the share of adult non-recipients earning less than $25 per hour was roughly 43%.
12 Between 2022 and 2024, nearly 1 in 3 (31%) adult SNAP recipients in New York City were seniors and no longer working age (see Appendix Figure A.1). Thus, in this figure, our results focus on the remaining 69% of adult SNAP recipients who are working age.
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SNAP RECIPIENTS IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF FEDERAL CUTS TO SNAP
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