In Massachusetts, three quarters of working-age people who rely on food aid from SNAP are also employed, according to a new working paper from the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Labor Center.

“I think sometimes there’s a myth around people receiving SNAP benefits, that (they) don’t work, but actually (the) vast majority of these households that do receive SNAP benefits do have working people in them,” said Jasmine Kerrissey , co-author of the report, the director of the Labor Center and a professor of sociology and labor studies.

The paper, published this week, analyzed data related to food assistance in Massachusetts. During the recent government shutdown, SNAP benefits were delayed and that helped spark the researchers’ interest in looking at working people’s reliance on foo

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