One Million Americans To Lose Food Stamp Benefits By 2016
At this time last year, Americans heard the news that the Senate had cut almost $9 billion to the SNAP federal assistance program. This coming year, those eligible for federal food aid could face more obstacles, and by 2016, one million Americans are expected to lose their SNAP benefits, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal-leaning think tank. Over the course of this year, many states are expected to revert back to former policies of allowing a three-month limit for unemployed adults who are not disabled or raising minor children, or otherwise enrolled in a work training program at least 20 hours per week, according to the newly-released study.
SNAP enrollment actually dropped this year for the first time since 2007, according to the USDA, likely due to economic improvement in post-recession America. The numbers, according to CBPP, partially represent people getting jobs in this slow economic turnaround, but also represent single people no longer qualifying for food stamp assistance, despite struggling financially.
According to the Huffington Post, states have been receiving waivers for the three-month limit since 2008, but now, starting this year, that will no longer be the case. And, as the CBPP researchers conclude, since states are not required to supply free job training programs, even those that are out of work but actively seeking work may be out of luck.