Have work requirements for food stamps shown 'success?'

Like many Iowa lawmakers, Sen. Dan Zumbach, R-Ryan, sends out email newsletters during the Legislative session talking about the bills he supports. In Zumbach’s Feb. 14 “From the Ground Up” newsletter, he talked about Senate File 2366.

“Another bill implements work requirements for able-bodied recipients of taxpayer-funded health care. It also updates state law to conform to the change in work requirements for food assistance required by the US Department of Agriculture,” he wrote. “Work requirements for food assistance have a track record of success.”

That last sentence got the Fact Checker team’s attention. It’s a little subjective — after all, how do you measure success? But we thought it was worth exploring whether there is data showing the effects of increasing work requirements.

The Fact Checker team checks statements made by an Iowa political candidate/officeholder or a national candidate/officeholder about Iowa, or in ads that appear in our market. Claims must be independently verifiable.

We give statements grades from A to F based on accuracy and context.

If you spot a claim you think needs checking, email us at factchecker@thegazette.com.

This Fact Checker was researched and written by Erin Jordan. The episode is hosted by Erin Jordan and co-hosted by Molly Duffy, Michaela Ramm, and B.A. Morelli.

Music in this episode is Lobby Time by Kevin MacLeod

Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3986-lobby-time/

License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/