Across the country, hundreds of thousands of low-income Americans are set to lose their food stamp benefits in the upcoming weeks, as harsh new requirements go into effect. In a number of states, including many in the Midwest and South, federal waivers that granted exceptions to work requirements are about to expire.
The rule that might cut so many poor Americans off food stamps was part of the 1996 welfare reform bill, pushed for by Republicans and backed by then-President Bill Clinton. The rule provides that individuals can only receive three months of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (known as food stamps) in a three-year period unless they are working or in a job training program at least 20 hours a week.
Only welfare recipients with disabilities or those raising minor children are exempted. However, the welfare bill also allowed for the restriction to be lifted in areas with high unemployment. This meant that in many parts of the country, the time limits were not in place during the recession. But as the economy recovers, the waivers are set to expire.
According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, time limits will be in place for the first time since the recession in 22 states this year. The Center estimates between 500,000 and 1 million Americans will be affected by the change.
In Florida alone, some 300,000 people could be affected by the change. The Sunshine State is one of the few states who are choosing to re-introduce time limits although the state might still be eligible for waivers (Arkansas, Mississippi and North Carolina have also chosen to end the hardship exception despite the fact that the waiver has not expired yet) These people will be hit hard by the loss of these essential benefits. Food security among those affected could deteriorate.
For many, the requirement to avoid losing benefits is simply impossible to fulfill. Searching for jobs does not count as an activity, which means that no matter how hard these SNAP recipients are out looking for work, it does not keep the state from taking away their food stamps. And while requiring SNAP recipients to participate in job training programs sounds like a reasonable idea in theory, the reality is that there are too few slots available in such programs. States are not required to offer work training opportunities to welfare recipients, and very few states have such training programs available with enough slots. That means that poor Americans are simply unable to meet the requirements to remain eligible for food stamps, and it is not their fault.
