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New threats to SNAP

Today the Children’s Defense Fund submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on their Proposed Rule on Requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). After failing in past efforts to slash funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as food stamps), the proposed rule is the administration’s most recent attempt to restrict access to SNAP benefits. Their proposal would subject more able-bodied adults without dependents to the requirement that they work or participate in work activities for 20 hours a week in order to receive SNAP benefits for more than 3 months in a 36 month period. We strongly oppose this policy, as well as the new proposal that would undercut states’ ability to waive the time limits in areas where there are many unemployed adults and too few jobs. By USDA’s own estimates, the rule would eliminate SNAP benefits for an additional 755,000 people. While current law does not permit SNAP time limits for children or adults with children, the work requirement on adults without children unduly harm children as well, as children living in poverty often depend on pooled resources (including SNAP benefits) from extended family members who do not claim them as dependents. Read CDF’s comments to learn more about our opposition to this harmful policy and submit your own comments with this easy-to-use tool from our friends at the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). Join us right now in speaking out against harmful changes to SNAP! As FRAC puts it: Food for the hungry shouldn’t have a time limit.

2019-09-24T14:48:57-05:00April 1st, 2019|