The free ride is over for many able-bodied people who contribute nothing and drain the system.
From NPR:
The Trump administration is tightening work requirements for some food stamp recipients, a change that is expected to eliminate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for 688,000 adults.
The new rule makes it more difficult for states to waive a requirement that able-bodied adults without children work at least 20 hours a week or else lose their benefits. The administration says the change is intended to encourage those receiving SNAP to get jobs, but anti-hunger advocates worry it will hurt low-income individuals who can’t find steady work.
“We need to encourage people by giving them a helping hand, but not allowing it to become an infinitely giving hand,” U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a press release. “Now, in the midst of the strongest economy in a generation, we need everyone who can work, to work.”
The new rule impacts able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 49 without dependents. There were nearly 4 million such adults receiving food stamps in 2016, about three-quarters of whom did not work, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Some estimates say the changes could save nearly $5 billion over five years.
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Notice that we are talking about those that are able-bodied and should be working.
This is not taking from those who have no other options.
AL.com estimates the number could climb as high as 750,000:
As many as 750,000 will be cut off from food stamps under a new regulation set to be announced Wednesday.
The change will make it harder for states to receive waivers for requirements that certain able-bodied adults work or be enrolled in vocational training programs in order to receive benefits, Bloomberg reported.
Currently, states can request a waiver for work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, if an area’s unemployment rate is at least 20 percent above the national rate. The national unemployment rate in October was 3.6 percent. Alabama’s preliminary unemployment rate for October was 2.8 percent.
As of August, 36.4 million Americans, including 721,299 Alabamians, receive food stamps.
Alabama currently doesn’t have any waivers in place.
Without the waiver, all SNAP recipients ages 18 to 49 who aren’t disabled or raising minor children are required to work at least part-time. Able-bodied adult SNAP recipients who don’t work are limited to three months of benefits within a three-year time frame.
Some exemptions are available for those who are physically or mentally unable to work; are pregnant; are caring for someone who is physically or mentally disabled; is a student; or is participating in a drug or alcohol treatment program.
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Again notice that there are exemptions and this law is aimed at putting freeloaders back to work, NOT punishing those who need the assistance.
Here’s a video report from Wednesday…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQs67vUtWgs
People that can work, should work.
There is no debating that.
The free ride just ended for many American freeloaders.
#MakeAmericaGreatAgain
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