Researchers say expanded federal work requirements for food assistance won't increase employment as intended, findings that take on particular significance for Kentucky where up to 114,000 residents could lose benefits.

A report from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, citing work by the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, found that work requirements "have no impact on labor force participation and the number of hours worked." In one West Virginia case study, the average number of people employed in Mingo County each month actually went down after the requirement was reimposed.

As part of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, all "able-bodied adults" 64 or younger who don't have dependents and don't work, volunteer, or participate in job training at least 80 hours a month are now restricted to three months of benefits every three years from SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. The new rule, which went into effect in November, also applies to parents of children 14 or older. It removed exemptions for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and young adults who've aged out of foster care.

The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy estimates that up to 114,000 residents risk losing SNAP benefits with the expanded work requirements. Kentucky, like West Virginia, is among the poorer states that will be most affected by the new requirements and costs.

Researchers argue the requirements primarily eliminate food assistance without achieving their stated goal. "But it did not lead to any meaningful increase in employment or earnings on average," according to a 2019 National Bureau of Economic Research analysis. "What we instead found was that work requirements largely functioned as a way to remove people from the program, but without improving their employment prospects."

Jessica Klein, a researcher with the center, worries about the consequences. "We know SNAP has an impact on health, and not just because it decreases food insecurity," she said. It worsens blood pressure rates, obesity, medication adherence, and more.

The changing requirements come as states will assume 75% of administrative costs starting in October, and beginning in October 2027, they'll be required to pay additional costs based on error rates. The Hazel Green Food Project operates on a half-acre lot and currently serves 2,000 households, a significant increase from 300 families in 2021.

Researchers suggest that "when people are hungry, they're not able to support themselves. When people are hungry, it's harder to focus at work. It's harder to engage in work activity."