Language
English (en)
Publication Date
6-17-2026
Summary
The goal of the U.S. social safety net is to ensure that everyone can meet a basic standard of living, regardless of their economic, health, or life circumstances. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, two key parts of this safety net, support low-income families in affording food and health care. This brief summarizes findings on seven dimensions of administrative burden in SNAP and Medicaid. The findings come from analyses conducted with data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility Project’s survey of a nationally representative sample of low-wage U.S. workers. They suggest that administrative burdens are common, affect those most in need of help, and arise in part from choices in the design of public systems.
Document Type
Research Brief
Category
Financial Inclusion
Subarea
Income Policy
Original Citation
Roll, S., & Despard, M. (2026). When the safety net becomes a barrier: Administrative burdens in SNAP and Medicaid (CSD Research Brief No. 26-30). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/5gnm-st09
Project
Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM)
Keywords
administrative burden ; SNAP ; Medicaid ; policy ; United States ; Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) ;
Recommended Citation
Roll, S., & Despard, M. (2026). When the safety net becomes a barrier: Administrative burdens in SNAP and Medicaid (CSD Research Brief No. 26-30). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/5gnm-st09
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7936/5gnm-st09