Washington – The Trump administration said on Thursday it aims to tighten food stamp restrictions for some able-bodied Americans through an administrative action that would save billions of dollars, after efforts to do so through Congress failed.
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The move could inflame political divisions over the program – the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – which provides free food to some 40 million Americans who qualify, or about 12 percent of the total U.S. population.
President Donald Trump’s administration has argued that many Americans using the program do not need it given the strong economy and low unemployment and should be removed as a way to save taxpayers billions of dollars.
The Trump administration said late Wednesday that the proposed rule would save American taxpayers $15 billion over the next decade.
Mainly Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, have promised to defend the program and last week blocked an effort by some Republicans to pass new restrictions through the Farm Bill.
Under the federal SNAP program, qualifying able-bodied adults without dependants (ABAWDs) can only get food stamps for three months over three years, a rule called the time limit that is intended to encourage people to find work. But states can circumvent the time limit and extend the benefits for ABAWDs by using waivers if they see fit.
The USDA said the department was planning to end statewide waivers unless a state qualifies for extended unemployment benefits due to bad economic conditions, and would limit waivers in larger geographic areas that are deemed to have sufficient available jobs.
Currently, 29 states administer partial waivers while seven states offer statewide waivers.
In a briefing late on Wednesday, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said 75 percent of the 3.8 million able-bodied individuals receiving food stamps were not working in 2016, the latest year for which the USDA has the data.
“This is unacceptable to most Americans and belies common sense, particularly when employment opportunities are plentiful as they currently are,” he said. “The nation’s economy is booming and unemployment is at lowest…since 1969.”
Growth forecasts for the fourth quarter are around a 2.7 percent annualized rate. The economy grew at a 3.5 percent pace in the third quarter. The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged at near a 49-year low of 3.7 percent.
The Department also said it was strengthening criteria for approval of waivers, for example, by limiting their duration to ensure they do not outlast poor economic conditions.
A Trump-led proposal to tighten the work requirements for the SNAP program through the Farm Bill was at the heart of a months-long, bitter and partisan debate that delayed the critical legislation for months. It failed to garner enough support in Congress and was left out of the final bill.
Maybe if he would not be able to buy the silence of his fancy ladies of the night and had a father who gave a million as a starter he would be more charitable to those on food stamps, a despicable person this president
Great start but we really need to limit all recipients of govt programs. We should put two limits
1) A max amount of govt programs one can take annually. You should not be allowed to take all of Snap. wic medicad,Hud, CHS, low income tax credits etc… We need to put a dollar limit on your total take (say $50,000 annually from all programs)
2) A time limit of say 3-5 years while you find a better job.
Too many people say hey why would I be a loser and become an accoutant, while earning a net income of 50k a year and working 60 hours a wk. Let me work 30 hours a week at some low income job and net 75k annually.
I think anyone who request, should be able to get foodstamps for bread, milk and maybe some more. You don’t know the circumstance behind each individual. The bare basics should always be available. This is just a cost we should bear no matter what. No need for extreme capitalism. Basic socialism in the form of food is chessed.
Im sorry Educated Archy was unable to make it to Mincha last Tuesday to hear the timeless words of the Navi Yehayahu, who does not qualify his words with a time limit or work requirement. Nor does he seem too worried about people living on handouts their entire life. I guess some would call him a snowflake.
“In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure,
And [b]exploit all your laborers.
4 Indeed you fast for strife and debate,
And to strike with the fist of wickedness.
You will not fast as you do this day,
To make your voice heard on high.
5 Is it a fast that I have chosen,
A day for a man to afflict his soul?
Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush,
And to spread out sackcloth and ashes?
Would you call this a fast,
And an acceptable day to the Lord?
6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the [c]heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are [d]cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
“I don’t need to give charity to goyim aside for maybe darkai shalom.”
Words to live by Archy. Your concern for your fellow human being is indeed very touching. Or as Shylock says bshem Shakespere “does a goy not bleed?’.
In any case, check out Hilchos Tzedaka in Yoreh Deah. Every city/community is required to set up a kupa/tomchei to support all the poor residents. The obligation is on the community ie government, in addition to every individuals own chiyuv to give Tzedaka.
As chazal tell us the siman of a yid is rachmanus. Since you seem to be lacking in basic human decency, I suggest you check your yichus (23 and me would be a good place to start). Perhaps you will find that you share ancestry with your hero, Trump, who also cares not a whit for others, but only for himself.
Food Stamps are a great program.