The Policy
In early December, the Trump Administration proposed a final rule making work requirements stricter for those getting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This rule builds off the initial proposal mentioned in August.
Under SNAP’s current work requirements, able-bodied adults are not supposed to receive benefits for more than three months during a three-year period unless they have a job or are enrolled in education and training programs for 20 hours a week. Additionally, regulations stipulate states can waive the time limit of beneficiaries if the unemployment rate within the state was 20% above the national rate of unemployment.
The new rule moves the threshold of unemployment to 6%, meaning a state must have an unemployment rate higher than 6% to be permitted to waive the three-month limit. At the announcement of this rule, Alaska was the only state with an unemployment rate higher than 6% and therefore the only state qualifying for the waiver.
Nearly 700,000 adults are to be deemed ineligible for SNAP as the rule targets able-bodied adults between 18-49 years of age, without children or dependents. The estimated savings of no longer having these beneficiaries is nearly $5.5 billion over 5 years. This rule is set to go in effect April 1st, 2020; however, 14 states have banded together to challenge the attack on food security.
Analysis:
The lawsuit, brought by a coalition of attorneys generals across 14 states, is suing the Agricultural Department for its rule threatening hundreds of thousands. Main arguments are that the Administration unlawfully limited states’ discretion to exempt certain adults from work requirements. These restrictions are a continuation of Trump’s April 2018 executive order titled “Reducing Poverty in America by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobility”, with a goal of creating more work programs, limiting overall public assistance, and reducing federal costs. However, the limiting of access will not increase employment, instead, it will increase hunger. This change denies vulnerable Americans acces to the vital SNAP benefits, this rule challenges their safety as the likely outcome of this rule will be an increase in economic uncertainty, health care costs, and hunger.
The groups who will be the most-hard hit are black and Hispanic households, women, and the LGBT+ community members.
The states that are suing are: California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Resistance Resources:
- CLASP : A national, nonpartisan, anti-poverty nonprofit advancing policy solutions for low-income people.
- Feeding America : A national organization whose goal is to provide food access to millions through food banks and food panties.
Reach out to your senators and representatives to take action!
Photo by NeONBRAND