- Matthew Unrath, Mathieu Despard, and Taryn Morrissey
- October 28 2026
- W140-2026
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
2:00–3:00 pm ET | 1:00–2:00 pm CT | 11:00 am–12:00 pm PT | 11:00 am–1:00 pm MT
Mathieu Despard, Clinical Professor, School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and senior researcher with the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis
Taryn Morrissey, Professor, Department of Public Administration and Policy, School of Public Affairs, American University
Even modest increases in household income for families receiving public benefits can sometimes result in a sudden loss of program eligibility—known as benefit cliffs—or steep benefit reductions or increases in tax liability–referred to as marginal tax rates. Benefit cliffs and steep marginal tax rates may undermine government initiatives to promote employment, financial self-reliance, and family stability among parents. This webinar will highlight research that looks into benefits cliffs using administrative data, longitudinal insights from over 2,000 low-wage workers, and new research on childcare subsidies and employment outcomes. Discover how these intersecting policies impact family stability and strategies to foster economic mobility.
Categories
Economic Support, Employment, Financial Security, Food & Nutrition, Food Assistance, Inequality & Mobility, Low-Wage Work, Means-Tested Programs, Retirement, Wealth
Tags
Administrative Data, National, Quantitative Research, SNAP/Food Stamps