New SNAP restrictions limit states' power to extend payments - Entrepreneur Generations

On Wednesday the Trump administration announced a final rule to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program with stricter work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, commonly called ABAWDs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates the change will save almost $5.5 billion over five years and reduce the number of SNAP recipients by 688,000.

"Under current law, able-bodied adults without dependents can receive SNAP benefits for a maximum of three months during a three-year period, unless they’re working or enrolled in an education or training program for 80 hours a month," Laura Reiley reports for The Washington Post. "But states have been able to waive this time limit to ensure access to food stamps during the ups and downs of reentering the workforce. Before this rule, counties with an unemployment rate as low as 2.5 percent were included in waived areas. The new rule, which is set to take effect on April 1, 2020, will tighten the criteria for states applying for such waivers, making 6 percent the minimum unemployment rate for a county to receive a waiver."

The changes will take effect on April 1, barring court action.





from The Rural Blog https://ift.tt/33SUaWb New SNAP restrictions limit states' power to extend payments - Entrepreneur Generations

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