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Thursday, July 06, 2017

Food stamp rolls plummet in states that restore work requirements

After the food stamp rolls swelled for years under the Obama administration, fresh figures show a dramatic reduction in states that recently have moved to restore work requirements.

States were allowed to waive those rules for able-bodied adults thanks to the 2009 economic stimulus. As the rules loosened and the economy sputtered out of the recession, food stamp enrollment soared to record levels – peaking at nearly 48 million nationwide in 2013.

But while that number has dipped gradually in recent years, some states have moved aggressively to push recipients who can work back into the job market and, in due time, off the program.

Alabama began 2017 by requiring able-bodied adults without children in 13 counties to either find a job or participate in work training as a condition for continuing to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

According to AL.com, the number of those recipients declined from 5,538 to 831 between Jan. 1 and the beginning of May – an 85 percent drop..

More here

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Alright, Maryland, your turn to do the same.

Anonymous said...

That's how you start a welfare recipient, you put their ebt card under their work boots!!!!

Anonymous said...

Maryland can't do enough to give away free food. They pay to plaster Ocean City buses with SNAP advertising.

SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is the program formerly known as food stamps. It is a federal nutrition program that helps you stretch your food budget and buy healthy food.

SNAP benefits can be used to purchase food at grocery stores, convenience stores, and some farmers' markets and co-op food programs.

SNAP benefits are given to you each month on a plastic card called an EBT (electronic benefits transfer) card, which works like a debit card. Paper coupons are no longer used.

SNAP is a nutrition program. It is not a welfare cash assistance program (which is called TAFDC). You do not have to be receiving TAFDC to get SNAP — these are separate programs.

SNAP is a federal entitlement program. This means anyone who is eligible will receive benefits. You will not be taking away benefits from someone else if you apply.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees SNAP at the federal level. In Massachusetts, you apply for benefits through the state agency that administers the program, called the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).

Anonymous said...

Well what do you know, a put people to work initiative that really does work!!! Amazing when folks dust off the old brain, the bounty that's found - AND it doesn't cost ME (Mr. Taxpayer) anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!

"WOO HOOO - that's the cost of savings folks!!!" (that darn mattress commercial slogan, can't get it out of my brain)

TGIF = 1 day away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

How many that dropped off the rolls didn't go back to work? These are the ones that should not receive another dime of government handout money!

Anonymous said...

I think this is fantastic. Every state in the USA should require anyone on welfare that is able to do the same. Enough of something for nothing. We are not helping to make good stewards of our people.

Anonymous said...

there was at one time and not all to long ago a work requirement that went along with getting assistance. Guess who removed it?