Key Points

Big changes are in process for some recipients of Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps) benefits and for the state governments that administer the programs. 

Medicaid is the nation’s largest safety net (government assistance or benefits, public assistance, or welfare) program. It helps cover medical costs for families with limited incomes, older adults, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. Recent data shows that about 71 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid.

SNAP, the second largest government assistance program, helps low-income families buy food. Around 42 million Americans currently rely on SNAP benefits.

With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) in July 2025, more recipients of Medicaid and SNAP benefits will have to work or engage in other qualifying activities to receive the vital support they need. 

With the new work requirements, lawmakers aim to encourage people who can work to join the workforce and ultimately lift themselves and their families out of poverty. But for the requirements to have the desired impact, both state governments and beneficiaries will have to figure out how to successfully navigate the updated programs. Challenges lie ahead for everyone involved.

What are welfare work requirements?

Work requirements for SNAP and Medicaid require some recipients to work, train, or volunteer for a certain number of hours per month to remain eligible for benefits.

The requirements generally apply to “able-bodied adults” who receive public assistance. The federal government defines able-bodied adults as most adults under age 65 who aren’t disabled and who don’t have a dependent child under a certain age. 

The new federal law says states have to adopt these work requirements, but the states are the primary administrators of Medicaid and SNAP. As a result, the states will verify recipients’ documentation of qualifying activities or their exemption status.

What are the Medicaid work requirements under the new federal law?

Beginning January 1, 2027, some able-bodied Medicaid recipients ages 19-64 will have to meet work requirements. 

To be eligible for benefits, recipients will have to take part in 80 hours per month of qualifying activities, including:

• Full- or part-time employment
• Job or vocational training programs
• Community service or volunteer opportunities
• Higher education programs

States will redetermine the eligibility of Medicaid recipients every six months. 

Several groups of individuals will be exempt from meeting the work requirements, including, among others:

• People who care for a child under 14 years of age
• Pregnant women or those who need postpartum medical care
• Caretakers of a disabled relative
• People who have a disability or health condition that prevents them from fulfilling the work requirement
• Current or former foster children under the age of 26
• Native Americans and Alaska Natives
• People who are incarcerated or have been in the last three months
• Veterans with a 100% disability rating

The OBBB also provides a temporary opt-out process (known as a waiver) for states with an unemployment rate over 8% or 1.5 times the national unemployment rate. These states’ citizens could struggle to meet the work requirements because of particularly high barriers to work.

The states will get more specific implementation and reporting instructions from the federal government in June 2026, and they could then decide to apply more restrictive work requirements than those in the OBBB.

What are the current Medicaid work requirements in Georgia?

About 2.2 million Georgians were enrolled in Medicaid as of May 2025, and around 67% of the adult beneficiaries were already working. 

Georgia has a head start compared to many other states that don’t have previous experience with Medicaid work requirements. The state implemented the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program in 2023 to provide valuable health care assistance to low-income Georgians who aren’t eligible for traditional Medicaid.   

The Pathways to Coverage program supports adults ages 19-64 whose household income is less than 100% of the federal poverty line. To receive benefits, recipients have to take part in 80 hours per month of qualifying activities similar to those listed above. 

The Pathways program has slightly different exemptions than those in the OBBB. For example, adults are exempt if they take care of a child under age 6 instead of age 14. Recipients also only have to verify their exemptions or their involvement in qualifying activities when they apply for benefits and when they renew their application each year. 

Both administrators and enrollees have run into challenges with the Pathways program, but Georgia’s previous experience with work requirements will be an advantage going forward. It’s important to note, though, that the current requirements for the Pathways program may change with the implementation of the OBBB.

What are the SNAP work requirements under the new federal law?

Many SNAP recipients faced new work requirements as of November 1, 2025. The groups of people below now have to meet these requirements: 

• Able-bodied adults ages 18-64 without dependent children (in the past, this only applied to people through age 54)
• Parents whose youngest child is 14 or older 
• Veterans
• People experiencing homelessness
• Former foster children 

Like with Medicaid, individuals can meet the work requirement by working, volunteering, or participating in an approved educational program for at least 80 hours per month. People who aren’t able to meet these requirements can only receive SNAP benefits for three months every three years. 

States can also be more restrictive with the work requirements, but they can only temporarily opt out of the enforcement of these requirements if their unemployment rate is 1.5 times the national average. 

In Georgia in particular, about 1.3 million people, or over 705,000 households, receive food stamps each month. About 69% of these households have kids, and 28% include an older adult or a person with a disability. It’s noteworthy that about 37% of Georgia’s SNAP recipients already live in households with a working family member. 

What are the pros and cons of work requirements?

The updated SNAP and Medicaid work requirements will bring both opportunities and challenges to beneficiaries and state governments.

Pros:

• Family and community well-being: When people take rewarding jobs, they’re setting foot on a pathway out of poverty and toward self-sufficiency. The families of those who work are also more stable, and strong families can change entire communities for the better. 
• Health benefits: Work brings a sense of dignity, purpose, and self-worth to people. As a result, working adults often experience less anxiety, fewer symptoms of depression, a decreased risk of suicide, and lower mortality rates. The children of employed people also tend to have better mental and physical health.
• Private health insurance options: Some of the people who join the workforce will become eligible for private health insurance through their employers. This will both bring stability to workers and their families and reduce the number of Medicaid recipients.
• Local economic growth: Increased labor force participation helps businesses grow and thrive. This then boosts local economies and spreads greater prosperity to surrounding areas.

Cons:

• Barriers to work: Many recipients of government benefits, including those who are able-bodied, face multiple barriers to work. These can include a lack of childcare, a lack of transportation, and age-related biases. Some Americans who rely on Medicaid and SNAP also live in rural or impoverished areas. These communities often have fewer jobs and educational or volunteer opportunities that would enable people to meet the work requirements close to home. 
• Difficulties with reporting work or exemptions: Many Medicaid and SNAP recipients could face hardships related to the reporting requirements. Administrative hurdles, a lack of internet access, and the difficulty of documenting exemptions or unstable earnings may cause people to lose benefits.
• High administrative costs: Implementing and enforcing work requirements demands significant administrative resources from state agencies. States will need to act quickly and efficiently to prepare to verify both the eligibility and ongoing work status of public assistance recipients.
• Benefits cliffs: Without additional reforms, work requirements put people at risk of experiencing benefits cliffs. By taking a job, an individual’s income could increase too much to qualify for assistance, but it still might not be enough to cover all the essential needs like food, health care, housing, and child care. This could leave people worse off, despite their efforts to meet the requirements. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that around 5.3 million people could lose much needed Medicaid support and about 2.4 million people could lose essential SNAP benefits because of this difficult situation.

What else can policymakers do to reform the safety net?

Work is crucial to overall well-being because it’s a gateway to upward mobility and a better future. Many public assistance recipients who can work should be able to meet work requirements and find rewarding opportunities. But these requirements are only a first step. 

To spark real change for those who are struggling, state lawmakers should explore a “One Door” approach to managing government benefits and workforce services. With this strategy, both benefits programs and job training assistance would be linked together. This would allow states to connect people to work while ensuring they receive the vital support they need. 

Ultimately, a One Door policy goes far beyond work requirements. It has the power to provide public assistance recipients with a clearer path into the workforce and toward financial independence. This, in turn, will help people realize their full potential as human beings and find opportunities to truly flourish.

Additional resources

Keeping vulnerable Americans on track: one door out of poverty and into opportunity
Alliance for Opportunity

One Big Beautiful Bill takes steps toward a work-first safety net, but states will have to act
Alliance for Opportunity

What states can expect with the new SNAP match: options to reduce state error rates
Alliance for Opportunity

June 2025 Medicaid & CHIP enrollment data highlights
Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services

Chart book: SNAP helps struggling families put food on the table
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

A closer look at who benefits from SNAP: state-by-state fact sheets
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Georgia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Pathways to Coverage: looking back two years and into the future
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute

Are work requirements good or bad?
Georgia Center for Opportunity

Food stamp program work requirements
Georgia Department of Human Services

Expanding Georgians’ access to health care
Georgia Pathways to Coverage

How new federal legislation will affect health care costs and access for Americans
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Implementing work requirements on a national scale: what we know from state waiver experience
KFF

Medicaid in Georgia
KFF

Medicaid.gov
Medicaid.gov

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s work-based welfare reforms are just the first step
Sutherland Institute

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
U.S. Department of Agriculture

How many people are on Medicaid in Georgia?
USAFacts

How will the One Big Beautiful Bill Act impact Medicaid?
USAFacts

Image Credit: Canva

Lawrenceville, Georgia, launched a unique partnership called ReCAST (Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma) in 2021 to address poverty and expand opportunities in the city. 

Because growing vibrant, resilient communities isn’t ever a solo endeavor, ReCAST coordinators connected with local organizations that could meet the needs of underserved residents where it mattered most—in Lawrenceville’s homes and neighborhoods. 

ReCAST engages three dynamic partners to meet its goals. Impact46 provides essential housing services to people experiencing financial hardship. View Point Health offers mental and behavioral health assistance. And the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) helps chronically unemployed or underemployed people prepare for and find rewarding work.

Eric Cochling, GCO’s Chief Program Officer and General Counsel, noted:

“We chose to participate in ReCAST because of the comprehensive approach to addressing community needs envisioned by the initiative. The focus on collaboration among local groups and on helping families develop community relationships reflects GCO’s method of supporting people in need.”

Lawrenceville recently produced a mini-documentary highlighting the third year of ReCAST’s accomplishments. It shows what’s possible when community members unite to open doors to a brighter future for local residents.

Connecting Lawrenceville job seekers with meaningful work

Employment plays a key role in healing communities after stress and trauma. In Gwinnett County, where Lawrenceville is located, GCO’s BETTER WORK program furthers ReCAST’s goals by bringing together local employers, nonprofits, and mentors to help people find fulfilling jobs close to home.

Carolina Pachon, GCO’s BETTER WORK Program Manager in Gwinnett County, explained that the program changes lives by giving people “a sense of hope, stability, and a way forward.”

As part of the BETTER WORK initiative, GCO offers a class called Jobs for Life. The class teaches valuable work skills, but it’s much more than a job training or placement course. It helps participants form the supportive community relationships that can point them in a new direction in life.

During the class, Jobs for Life students learn that meaningful work brings more than just a paycheck. It provides a sense of dignity and purpose that’s essential for human flourishing. A rewarding job also gives workers the confidence and courage to rise out of poverty and build a better future. This resiliency then spreads, revitalizing and strengthening workers’ families and communities as well.

GCO’s programs are particularly impactful in Lawrenceville, where many residents struggle with barriers to opportunity. The city’s poverty rate is 17.2%, well above Gwinnett County’s average rate of 10.5%. The higher poverty rate also correlates with data showing that about 19% of prime-age (25-54) adults in Lawrenceville aren’t currently working.

Sparking change in a young man’s life

Josiah, a young Lawrenceville resident, found Jobs for Life at a point when he most needed his local community to listen and offer support. He was having a hard time finding a sense of purpose in his life.

Carolina described Josiah as shy at first, but during the class, she saw a big transformation in his mindset. Josiah’s self-esteem soared as facilitators and fellow students created a caring community around him. At the end of the program, he gave an inspiring graduation speech emphasizing the significance of the personal connections he’d made. “I’ve come to believe that the purpose of life is to build meaningful relationships with people,” he shared.

Josiah now works in a restaurant and has a passion for cooking. He’s looking for ways to combine this enthusiasm with his desire to serve others. “I’m super excited,” he said.

Josiah offered this valuable advice to others who are struggling: “Let go of uncertainty. If you think you want to do something, do it.”

Making Lawrenceville a true hometown

Communities grow stronger when people invest in the well-being of their neighbors. ReCAST enables Lawrenceville residents to do just that through vital local initiatives.

Support for neighbors who need a hand empowers people like Josiah to take meaningful steps forward, to rise out of poverty, and to help the whole community thrive. The interconnectedness that ReCAST has set in motion makes Lawrenceville a true hometown—a place to belong—for the individuals and families who live there.

In 96 of Georgia’s 159 counties, at least a quarter of prime-age (25-54) adults aren’t working, according to the Economic Innovation Group’s recently updated Distressed Communities Index (DCI). 

The higher percentage of non-working adults in these counties surpasses the national rate of 20.9%. It also contributes to more Georgians living in distressed communities, where residents face challenges to accessing opportunities that make it possible to break out of poverty. While the numbers of non-working adults vary significantly throughout Georgia, they are a strong reminder that communities and lawmakers must continue to support and empower adults who have the ability to enter the workforce.

Workforce participation a key factor in community well-being

The number of adults not working is one of several statistics the DCI uses to determine where communities fall on the spectrum of well-being and economic opportunity. Other factors include the number of people without a high school diploma or equivalent, the housing vacancy rate, the median household income, and the share of the population below the poverty line. 

The latest DCI update shows that 16.8% of Georgians are living in distressed communities (approximately 1.8 million people), and another 18.3% live in “at risk” communities (approximately 2 million people). 

In particular, the statewide percentage of prime-age adults who don’t work is 28.1%, which is about 7% above the national rate. Some counties significantly exceed the state average. For example, in Stewart County, just south of Columbus, 63.4% of prime-age adults aren’t working. Morgan County, on the east side of Atlanta, has the lowest percentage of non-working adults at 15.3%. 

The numbers of non-working adults correlate with poverty rates in counties across Georgia. While the national share of the population living below the poverty line is 12.4%, Georgia’s overall rate is 13.5%. Stewart County, discussed above, has a poverty rate of 27.8%. In contrast, Morgan County’s poverty rate is just 7.4%.

Use the table below to see how many adults aren’t working in your community.

Number of non-working adults compared to the unemployment rate

It’s important to note that prime-age adults not working is a separate workforce issue from Georgia’s unemployment rate. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who are actively looking for work but aren’t currently employed. In contrast, non-working adults are people who aren’t employed and are not actively looking for work. 

In Georgia, disengagement from work tends to be a bigger issue further outside Atlanta. The map below illustrates that several of the counties surrounding Atlanta have lower percentages of non-working adults, and they typically have unemployment rates close to Georgia’s overall unemployment rate of 3.4%.

Benefits of work beyond the economic aspect

The DCI focuses primarily on economic well-being, showing how it improves as people enter the workforce. But our research has found that there are many other non-financial benefits of work, especially for communities struggling with long-term or generational poverty. 

Evidence shows that working provides a stronger sense of self-esteem, dignity, and purpose for employed people. 

Work also improves mental and physical health. Working adults often experience less anxiety, fewer symptoms of depression, a decreased risk of suicide, and lower mortality rates. Greater opportunities for upward mobility can enhance these positive effects.

The families of those who work are more stable as well, and the children of working adults tend to have stronger academic performance and future income for themselves. 

A thriving workforce also changes entire neighborhoods for the better. More adults working contributes to more positive engagement in the community overall, greater opportunities for job growth, and increases in services and resources. Employment has also been linked to reductions in crime and recidivism.

Helping Georgians experience the benefits of work

It’s crucial that both policymakers and communities throughout Georgia continue their steadfast efforts to encourage non-working adults to enter the workforce. Doing so will lift distressed communities and narrow the economic and social gaps that separate them from their more prosperous neighbors. 

As local organizations support and empower people who are considering work, they can also take the opportunity to help those individuals recognize how working can cause a ripple effect of rewarding changes, creating a more hopeful future and a greater quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Image Credit: Canva

Safety net programs are meant to help people in difficult times—but the system’s overwhelming rules and disconnected services are trapping people in a cycle of frustration and dependence instead of offering them a clear path forward.

This unfortunate reality exists in most states—Georgia included. But there is good news: Some states are beginning to rethink welfare, modeling positive changes that Georgia and other states could adopt.

What’s not working about the current welfare system?

Our nation’s welfare system is anything but simple. There are over 80 programs at the federal level alone, each with different goals and conflicting eligibility rules. For someone who needs help, this maze of programs is slow and overwhelming to navigate. People must visit multiple offices, fill out the same forms again and again, and talk to different caseworkers. 

On top of this, the entire safety net is separate from workforce services that help people gain skills and find jobs. This set-up not only delays aid, but it also takes time and energy away from pursuing long-term solutions, such as stable employment.

Work isn’t just a way to earn income—it’s the gateway to independence and a profound source of dignity and purpose. Most Americans agree that it’s important to have a well-functioning safety net that provides temporary assistance and support for the most vulnerable. But the safety net should be a springboard to a better life, not a trap that holds people back once they’re in it.

How Other States Are Making Welfare Work Better

Arkansas: Evaluating What Works and What Doesn’t

During its recent legislative session, Arkansas passed a law (Senate Bill 50) to set up a task force to review the state’s workforce and social service programs. The idea is simple yet powerful: make sure welfare programs are meeting their intended goals.

By taking stock of these programs, Arkansas aims to find inefficiencies, improve coordination among agencies, and maximize the help provided to those in need. The audit’s results will inform future legislative decisions by offering the state a clear, data-driven picture of what works and what doesn’t. 

Louisiana: Creating One Door to Work 

With a poverty rate of 18.9%, Louisiana is one of the poorest states in the country—a situation that’s even more difficult to overcome because of the state’s disjointed welfare system.  

In 2025, Louisiana addressed this problem by passing One Door legislation modeled after Utah’s successful safety net design. The reform merges the Temporary Aid to Needy Families program (TANF) and Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs into a new program called LA Works. It will help welfare recipients get the social services help they need while also connecting them to employment opportunities.

This legislation came from an intentional effort by state leaders to understand the outcomes of Louisiana’s safety net system. The first step was a performance audit of SNAP, WIOA, TANF, and CCAP programs. The audit uncovered several inefficiencies that confirmed these programs were not meeting their stated goals of providing temporary help while empowering individuals toward self-sufficiency.

The audit led to an executive order establishing the Louisiana Workforce and Social Services Reform Task Force. This group developed recommendations for consolidating Louisiana’s welfare and work programs, which ultimately led state leaders to pass One Door legislation with unanimous bipartisan support. 

With One Door to Work, states can simply the safety net system for both administrators and recipients and give people a clearer path to a good job and a better life. 

With One Door to Work, states can simply the safety net system for both administrators and recipients and give people a clearer path to a good job and a better life. 

Utah: Proving It Can Be Done

Utah is the longest-running example of successful safety-net reform. It implemented the One Door model in the 1990s, integrating welfare programs with workforce support systems. Instead of navigating separate offices for benefits and employment services, individuals in Utah use a single, unified system. This approach has consistently yielded results:

• Low Poverty Rates: Utah boasts some of the lowest poverty rates in the country, thanks in part to its focus on connecting people with skill-building opportunities and job placements.
• Reduced Dependency: The state has the nation’s lowest rates of residents dependent on food stamps and Medicaid.
• Economic Prosperity: By prioritizing work and self-sufficiency, Utah has built one of the nation’s strongest economies with consistently low unemployment rates.

Utah’s success proves that connecting welfare and employment services isn’t just possible; it’s effective. 

The state is continuing to explore innovative ways to help families overcome poverty. Most recently, Utah launched a pilot project to use funds from the Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) program to provide families with financial planning support that helps them navigate the transition from public assistance to other economic opportunities. 

Takeaways for Georgia

Georgia’s welfare system struggles with similar issues—inefficient processes, separate agencies, not enough focus on helping people achieve self-sufficiency.

Georgia lawmakers recently considered House Resolution 884, which proposed creating a task force to review and streamline welfare and workforce systems, but it didn’t pass during the last legislative session. This was a missed opportunity—but it’s one lawmakers can revisit that can be revisited in the upcoming session.

As lawmakers consider reforms for the future, here are a few concrete ideas that would shape a better welfare system and a thriving workforce in Georgia: 

• Conduct an audit similar to Arkansas’s to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement.
• Establish a task force to begin implementing a “One Door” initiative, like those in Louisiana and Utah.
• Advocate for integrating welfare programs with workforce development initiatives at both the state and federal levels.
• Prioritize transparency, accountability, and ease of use in redesigning the system.

Image Credit: Canva
Video Credit: Alliance for Opportunity