Nowhere to Turn: State Abortion Bans & the Failure to Support Women With Public Benefits
The 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision overturned Roe v. Wade, leading 21 states to ban or heavily restrict abortion, exacerbating economic and health challenges for women denied care while these states also often lack supportive policies like paid leave, fair wages, and accessible public benefits for growing families.
The Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in June 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the federal constitutional right to abortion and prompting 21 states to enact severe abortion restrictions, including total bans or gestational limits as early as six weeks. These restrictions have profound consequences for women’s health, autonomy, and economic stability, particularly for low-income women and women of color. Research shows that being denied abortion access leads to long-term economic hardship, including increased household poverty, debt, and reduced credit scores. States with restrictive abortion laws often lack supportive family policies, such as paid family leave, affordable childcare, and adequate cash assistance, leaving growing families with insufficient resources to meet their needs.
In these states, access to public benefits like Medicaid, TANF, and food assistance is often limited by restrictive eligibility criteria and inadequate funding, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations. For example, many non-expansion states have failed to adopt Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, leaving millions of low-income women without reliable health coverage before, during, and after pregnancy. Addressing these gaps requires federal action to expand access to public benefits, repeal abortion restrictions, and ensure equitable policies that support women and families regardless of where they live. By strengthening federal public benefit programs and implementing inclusive reforms, policymakers can mitigate the economic harm caused by abortion bans and create a stronger foundation for families’ health and well-being.
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