Income Instability and Income Support Programs: Recommendations for Policy and Practice
Evidence | Publications

Income Instability and Income Support Programs: Recommendations for Policy and Practice

Published: May 01, 2017
Publisher: Family Self-Sufficiency and Stability Research Consortium
Human Services Family Support
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Authors

Jennifer Romich and Heather D. Hill

University of Washington

Key Findings
  • Low-income families face frequent fluctuations in income across weeks, months, and years.
  • The design and administration of the current system of income support programs does not fully acknowledge that reality, or aim to reduce detrimental variability of income. At times, program rules and requirements may be exacerbating income fluctuations caused by work and family changes.
  • Policy makers and program administrators and staff should consider changes to eligibility determination and recerti­fication that would promote stable income and reduce the cost of program administration.

The ConsortiumThis brief presents background on income volatility and income support programs before mak­ing recommendations for policymakers and program administrators to promote income stability and mobility with income support programs.

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