The National Academy of Social Insurance and Aspen Institute Financial Security Program launch the Task Force on Work and Savings 

For millions of people in the U.S., public benefits are crucial resources for achieving financial stability. Yet, systemic “traps” like asset limits and benefit cliffs force many workers into a lose-lose situation: choose between the income support, healthcare, or food assistance they need today and the higher wages or savings they need for tomorrow.

To begin dismantling these barriers, The National Academy of Social Insurance and Aspen Institute Financial Security Program have launched the Task Force on Work and Savings. A project of the Benefits Futures Studio, the Task Force convenes cross-sector partners to ensure the system supports economic mobility instead of punishing work and savings.

The first year of the Task Force will focus on how asset limits and benefit cliffs impact people with disabilities and how employers can address these challenges. In our inaugural meeting, members discussed:

• The impact of asset limits and benefit cliffs on people with disabilities, especially their ability to meet their basic needs and future goals.
• The essential role of lived experience in designing and developing a truly person-centered public benefits system.
• The systemic consequences of rigid administrative requirements and disjointed rules and definitions on recipients, program administrators, and employers.
• The cultural and narrative frameworks that shape how public benefit programs are currently administered.

What the Task Force Will Do

• Connect Leaders: We are bringing together experts and decision-makers to focus on these issues and share what is working.
• Create Solutions: We will develop practical tools and plans for employers, tech companies, and lawmakers.
• Drive Change: In our first year, we will focus specifically on how these penalties hurt workers with disabilities and provide clear steps for leaders to reduce or eliminate these “savings traps” entirely.

Who Is Involved

The Task Force includes government and business leaders, advocates, and—most importantly—people who have personally dealt with these hurdles. Together, we are working to ensure that everyone can meet their daily needs, build emergency savings, and plan for retirement without losing their safety net.

Task Force Members