The typical gig worker is changing — and struggling more than ever to make ends meet

The briefing

A Government Accountability Office report found DoorDash, Lyft and Uber had the most workers receiving SNAP benefits among major employers in 2025, displacing Walmart and McDonald's. Gig platforms are now collectively the third-biggest U.S. employer with workers on Medicaid, and new work requirements may be especially hard for multi-platform workers to document. The author points to portable benefits, comparing New York's Black Car Fund with California's Proposition 22, where only 10% of drivers receive the healthcare stipend.