Working Paper: NBER ID: w31983
Authors: Michael G. Muellersmith; James M. Reeves; Kevin Schnepel; Caroline Walker
Abstract: We study the lifetime banning, as introduced by United States Public Law 104-193, of individuals convicted of felony drug offenses after August 22, 1996 from ever receiving future SNAP benefits. Using a regression discontinuity design that leverages CJARS criminal history records with federal administrative and survey data, we estimate the causal impact of safety net assistance bans, finding significant reductions in SNAP benefit take-up, which creates unintentional spillovers to spouses and children and persist long after ban revocations occurred. While we observe limited changes to other adult outcomes, children's cognitive and educational outcomes worsen, especially those impacted at young ages.
Keywords: criminal history; safety net; SNAP benefits; public assistance; intergenerational effects
JEL Codes: H53; I38; K42
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| PRWORA bans (I38) | SNAP benefit receipt (H53) |
| PRWORA bans (I38) | lower SNAP benefit take-up among spouses and children (H53) |
| PRWORA bans (I38) | children's cognitive and educational outcomes (I24) |
| PRWORA bans (I38) | harm to child mental health and cognitive development (I25) |
| PRWORA bans (I38) | long-term negative outcomes (I12) |