July 28, 2026
SNAP’s New Cost Share Requirement Is a Blunt, But Necessary Tool
Last month, the US Department of Agriculture released the most recent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program…
July 16, 2026
The End of the Food Security Supplement in the Current Population Survey: Next Steps
Abstract Since 1996, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published an annual report on…
July 9, 2026
How to Strengthen the Climb From the Safety Net
Executive summary Wisconsin has long benefited from low poverty rates and relatively high labor force…
June 23, 2026
The US Needs a New Safety Net
Congress is considering a major anti-poverty reform: giving states more flexibility to redesign welfare and…
June 3, 2026
Stranded by the Safety Net: Addressing Benefit Cliffs to Assist Families and Businesses
Chairman Ernst, Ranking Member Markey, and members of the Small Business Committee. Thank you for…
December 29, 2025
To restore hope for families in poverty, let states lead on welfare reform
The holiday season offers a renewed sense of hope for many American families. But for…
December 2, 2025
What To Do About Benefit Cliffs?
Everyone wants poor families to work their way off welfare and ascend the income ladder….
December 2, 2025
Stranded by the Safety Net: How to Fix the Benefit Cliff Problem
November 20, 2025
When help holds families back
One of the central contradictions in American politics today is that, despite decades of measurable…
September 23, 2025
Why the USDA Is Justified in Ending the Food Security Survey
The USDA announced plans to discontinue future Household Food Security reports, ending the annual supplemental…
September 23, 2025
End Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility in SNAP and Address Benefit Cliffs
Broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is an administrative function with broad implications for SNAP caseloads and expenditures. Though Congress originally established BBCE as a way to lower administrative burden and increase program efficiency, states have used it in recent decades to expand SNAP eligibility beyond statutory income eligibility limits of 130 percent of the federal poverty level and other eligibility conditions.