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| AP Photo/Andrew Harnik |
Reforms to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could result in several million poor Americans being denied benefits, according to a study by the Urban Institute.
The changes are the result of three separate rules promulgated by the Department of Agriculture that would prevent people who go on public assistance of any kind from automatically qualifying for the SNAP program. The new rules would also tighten work requirements and cap utility deductions.
NBCNews:
A study by the Urban Institute released this week examined the three rules in combination for the first time and found that 3.7 million fewer people would receive SNAP in an average month, 2.2 million households would see their average monthly benefits drop by $127, more than 3 million others would see an average drop of $37 per month, and 982,000 students would lose access to free or reduced lunches.
“What we found is that overall the three proposed changes would reduce the number of households participating in SNAP by about 11 percent if this was implemented in 2018," said Laura Wheaton, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute who conducted the study. "It’s about a 9.4 percent reduction in the number of people participating and about an 8 percent reduction in overall benefits.”
The Ag Department says that the changes would save taxpayers more than $4 billion a year.
I understand the goals of the new rules, but question whether they are adequately calibrated to reduce or deny benefits only to those who don't deserve them. Would the truly poor and needy be impacted negatively by the changes?Read the rest of the story HERE
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