According to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report commissioned by Senator Bernie Sanders, reliance on government assistance programs like food stamps and Medicaid has surged significantly among workers in the gig economy and major corporations such as Amazon between February 2020 and late 2025.
While Walmart continues to employ the highest number of workers on Medicaid, Amazon’s beneficiary numbers have tripled since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and app-based delivery and ride-hailing platforms have become the leading employment category for food stamp recipients.
Although representatives for Amazon and the gig industry defend their practices by citing high overall headcounts, part-time options, and worker flexibility, critics argue that taxpayers are effectively subsidizing low corporate wages.
This widespread financial insecurity is further compounded by a lack of traditional benefits, as many gig workers earn below minimum wage, struggle to afford basic necessities like food and utilities, and face occupational hazards without adequate health insurance or workplace protections.
