The Financial Consequences of Being Denied Benefit Access

Tatiana Homonoff, Min S. Lee and Katherine Meckel

No 34434, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We examine the causal impact of being denied benefit access on the financial well-being of marginally-excluded households. Using experimental and quasi-random variation in the flexibility of mandatory intake interviews and a unique linkage between administrative Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and credit report data, we find that households screened out of SNAP due to administrative barriers suffer tangible downstream economic consequences. Specifically, we find that process-related denials increase debt and delinquencies, and decrease credit scores. These results highlight the economic importance of implementation design and its role in strengthening (or undermining) the financial protection provided by social insurance programs.

JEL-codes: D14 H53 I38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-10
Note: CH EH PE
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