New Proposal Could Mean 3.6 Million People Lose FOOD STAMPS, 1 In 10 Households
'Heres who could lose food stamps under Trumps proposed changes,' PBS, Health, Sept. 5, 2019. Excerpts: ~(Changing eligibility requirements to reduce the rolls).
Millions of Americans stand to lose food stamp benefits under a policy proposed by the Trump administration, and new state-level data offers a glimpse of how 3.6 million people would be impacted if this rule goes into effect. An analysis from policy firm Mathematica suggests 9 percent of households nationwide that currently receive food stamps, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, would no longer qualify for those benefits under this proposed rule. But that percentage could be much higher in certain states..
On July 24, the Trump administration proposed changing one way states calculate who is eligible to receive SNAP benefits. This policy is called broad-based categorical eligibility, and it was designed to give states further discretion to determine who needs food stamps beyond federal requirements. Under this proposed rule, people whose gross income is 130 percent above the federal poverty line (slightly more than $16,000 for one person) or have more than $2,250 in assets, will no longer qualify to receive federal food benefits.
That means an estimated 3.6 million Americans would no longer receive food stamps under the new rule. Thats nearly one out of 10 households or 1.9 million homes where people currently receive SNAP benefits in 42 states and territories, according to Mathematicas analysis of the data. Its a large portion of the SNAP population that will lose benefits. For state actors, its really useful for them to go in and see, Lauffer said.
..If the Trump administrations proposed rule goes into effect, Delaware, Texas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, Washington, Oregon and Nevada are projected to lose 15 percent or more of their SNAP recipients, according to Mathematicas latest analysis. All of those states have more generous standards than the federal governments. Overall, 11 states do not have expanded eligibility for food stamps, which means that under the new rule, they would not see any changes..
The data suggests this policy would hit vulnerable populations like children and the elderly, Lauffer said. Also, nearly 194,000 households that face losing SNAP benefits are home to at least one person living with a disability, and almost 790,000 households receiving those benefits are in poverty... In the absence of significant change, if we lose SNAP benefits, we can expect increases in both food insecurity and poverty, she said. As many as 500,000 children also could lose eligibility for free school lunch program, Waxman cautioned. Thats because states that automatically enrolled people to receive SNAP benefits, also enrolled children in the household to receive free school lunches.
The public comment period for this proposed rule ends on Sept. 23. So far, nearly 6,600 comments have been received on this proposed rule change.. More, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/heres-who-could-lose-food-stamps-under-trumps-proposed-changes
CDerekGo
(507 posts)and the poor get poorer. I'll never understand my Country
appalachiablue
(41,056 posts)power. What has happened to this nation and democracy?!
BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)bit given to the individual states to decide? The cost of living is very different if you compare CA and KY so the cut-off for food stamps should be based on the state's poverty level, or even the city's level since San Francisco is very different from Weed, CA.