Language
English (en)
Publication Date
8-29-2025
Summary
At its best, the public benefits system in the United States helps families avoid poverty’s most severe effects while also giving them a hand up. But the system also can keep working families in poverty. Workers may want to earn more money, take better jobs, or save for the future, but doing so can raise their income above program limits, causing workers to lose the benefits they and their families need to survive. This is known as the benefits cliff. This brief draws upon data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility survey to explore how benefits cliffs and related asset limits influence the lives of low-wage workers. The findings identify differences between younger (aged 18-25) and older workers (aged 26 or above), as well as the strategies workers deploy to avoid losing benefits.
Document Type
Research Brief
Category
Financial Inclusion
Subarea
Income Policy
Original Citation
Roll, S., Despard, M., & Zhang, G.(2025). Public benefits cliffs and asset limits harm the economic mobility of young adult workers (CSD Research Brief No. 25-47). Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Project
Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM)
Keywords
benefits cliffs ; income; public benefits ; asset limits ; income limits ; eligibility ; Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) ;
Recommended Citation
Roll, S., Despard, M., & Zhang, G.(2025). Public benefits cliffs and asset limits harm the economic mobility of young adult workers (CSD Research Brief No. 25-47). Washington University, Center for Social Development.