Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

SNAP Work Requirement Still Not Enforced in 25 States
The Epoch Times ^ | February 17, 2023 | Beth Brelje

Posted on 02/18/2023 5:46:56 PM PST by george76

'It is time for this exemption to end,' said Sen. John Boozman...

Able-bodied people without dependents must work 20 hours a week or be in job training to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress suspended the work requirement.

Businesses are open again, yet 25 states have not fully reinstated work requirements. Of those, seven states allow work waivers in certain areas of the state. These seven are Colorado, Kentucky, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, and South Dakota.

Eighteen states and territories have kept the work waiver across the entire state. They are Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington.

When the federal public health emergency ends in May, the work requirement will be reinstated. But Republicans on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry want to know why the work requirement is not already in place.

“For nearly three years, SNAP participants have been exempted from work requirements. It is time for this exemption to end and it is time for USDA to get serious about enforcing work requirements. States should no longer be allowed to game the system,” Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), ranking member of the committee, said Thursday in opening remark of a hearing on funding the Farm Bill.

“Good jobs are plentiful. There are more than 11 million jobs open across the economy, equivalent to nearly two job openings for every unemployed person. Approximately 5 million of those job openings are in 25 states and territories that are not enforcing work requirements. This job gap pushes labor costs higher, slows supply chains, delays our economic recovery from the pandemic, and importantly, is a large contributor to the historic inflation facing our nation.”

Work Requirement Burden

.....

Able-bodied people without dependents make up 10 percent of SNAP recipients, according to hearing testimony.

Stacy Dean, deputy undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was asked several times throughout the hearing why the USDA is allowing states to continue with the work waiver. Congress suspended the work requirement, Dean explained, but the USDA has been working aggressively with states to ensure that they reinstate the law when the work requirement suspension is over.

She hinted that the administration views the work requirement as a burden to some.

“The rule is incredibly complicated,” Dean said. “We often see individuals who should be exempt from it falling prey to it. … This rule applies to veterans, homeless individuals, and 19-year-olds who have just aged out of foster care and might struggle.”

SNAP is intended to supplement a beneficiary’s monthly grocery budget, Boozman said. It was not created to be the entire monthly grocery budget.

“Why is the Biden administration not promoting work?” Boozman asked. “As study after study proves, work equals dignity. A culture of dependence weakens our communities and our country. SNAP is a valuable program, but it should lead to self-reliance, not generational dependence.”


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Arkansas
KEYWORDS: agriculture; arkansas; covid; foodstamp; foodstamps; johnboozman; snap; usda; work; workrequirement

1 posted on 02/18/2023 5:46:56 PM PST by george76
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: george76
Work? sheeeeit!


2 posted on 02/18/2023 5:53:47 PM PST by Governor Dinwiddie (LORD, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Governor Dinwiddie

Sen. John Boozman climbs off the backbench?


3 posted on 02/18/2023 5:57:49 PM PST by Paladin2 (0%?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2

Does Mitch know Boozeman is off his leash?


4 posted on 02/18/2023 5:59:20 PM PST by Paladin2 (0%?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: george76

I’m at my wits end. Fancy hotel rooms for criminal illegal aliens, food stamps and 0bama phones for homeless drug addicts, bailouts for Ukraine pensions, and the list goes on and on. Everywhere in my small town businesses are suffering from lack of workers. This has to stop!

Meanwhile, our brethren in E. Palestine, Ohio couldn’t even get this administration to look their way... until Trump said he would be visiting.
Still, too little, too late! 🤬


5 posted on 02/18/2023 6:00:30 PM PST by just Grace
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: just Grace

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed this..

.. but world governments, not just ours, are GIVING MONEY AWAY.

Almost as if it’s not worth anything. Like they have planned a bankruptcy.

The money is worthless. The WEF is actively rolling out digital currency.. a son as they can control it.

We’re broke. Buy durable products.


6 posted on 02/18/2023 6:06:02 PM PST by Celerity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: george76

They’re doing it on purpose. Borders are open in the US and the country is being fleeced. It’s literally a fire sale.

The world has decided to divide us up.


7 posted on 02/18/2023 6:07:30 PM PST by Celerity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Celerity

So true.


8 posted on 02/18/2023 6:08:25 PM PST by Jane Long (What we were told was a “conspiracy theory” in 2020 is now fact. 🙏🏻 Ps 33:12 )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: george76

re: State-wide wavier for Alaska.

You can’t work for 20 h9urs if there are no jobs. Try to find employment in Tatitlek or Egegik AK. No jobs to be had.


9 posted on 02/18/2023 6:14:37 PM PST by ASOC (This space for rent)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2

Does Mitch know Boozeman is off his leash?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
LOL! Well done!


10 posted on 02/18/2023 6:26:08 PM PST by fortes fortuna juvat (Democrat politicians and voters are dangerous psychopaths. They confirm it everyday.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: just Grace

Under Democrats and RINOs:

America Last

Americans Last


11 posted on 02/18/2023 6:27:50 PM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Celerity; null and void; bagster; Travis McGee; Diogenesis

(It’s literally a fire sale.

The world has decided to divide us up.)

Next stop: The New World Order

Oh wait, that’s just a conspiracy theory

Never mind.....

Daniel 7:23


12 posted on 02/18/2023 6:30:03 PM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: ASOC

So moving to a place that has jobs is to your mind unthinkable. What gives you the right to decide that a person’s desire to stay rooted in Stinkville must be subsidized by the rest of us?


13 posted on 02/18/2023 8:19:00 PM PST by HalfIrish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson