The Harmful Consequences of Work Requirements and Other Obstacles to Services for Children and Families

Weakening federal assistance programs that provide children with affordable health care, nutritious food, stable housing, and early childhood education by imposing funding cuts, work requirements, unreasonable time limits, and other unnecessary bureaucratic barriers undermines access to services for low income families and undercuts opportunities for their children. These actions often hurt children with the greatest need, creating categories of deservedness of children that negatively impact their well-being and harm their short-term and long-term success. Holding children back in this way has adverse consequences for the economy and doesn't reflect the values of the nation. This document is an update to the 2018 brief, "The Harmful Consequences of Work Requirements and Other Obstacles on Families with Children" [ED603487], and explains how work requirements would weaken the effectiveness of assistance programs by increasing disparities for children in marginalized communities and undermining child health, nutrition, housing stability, economic security, and early childhood development.