GAO Reports Gig Platform Workers Lead All Employers in SNAP, Medicaid Enrollment
A Government Accountability Office report found that workers at DoorDash, Lyft, and Uber now have the highest rates of SNAP enrollment among major U.S. employers and rank third for Medicaid enrollment, a sharp increase from 2020 when these companies were not in the top five. The shift reflects gig work transitioning from supplemental to primary income for many workers, with nearly half of gig workers surveyed saying the work is essential or important to meeting basic needs. New Medicaid work requirements passed in 2025 — mandating 80 hours per month — may create verification challenges for gig workers who lack traditional pay stubs or single-employer documentation, potentially pushing workers off coverage despite meeting work thresholds. The trend highlights taxpayer-funded safety net programs subsidizing low-wage platform employment that does not provide traditional benefits.