The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is currently seeking public feedback for ideas that “promote work and self-sufficiency” for able-bodied adults without dependents who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is currently seeking public feedback for ideas that “promote work and self-sufficiency” for able-bodied adults without dependents who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The USDA says public input on this topic will help inform potential policy and program changes that will align with the recommendations from President Donald Trump’s proposed federal budget.
As CMF reported, under the budget proposal the program would be reformatted to add employment requirements for able-bodied adults. Recipients would also receive half their benefits in a USDA food package named “America’s Harvest Box” containing nonperishables such as canned vegetables, and funding for SNAP would be reduced by more than 30 percent over a decade.
In Michigan, 14.7 percent of residents receive SNAP assistance, which is about one in every seven Michigan residents. According to the latest data shared by MLive, nearly 75 percent of Michigan SNAP households are working and earning income. The breakdown shows 49 percent of Michigan SNAP households had one worker in the home and 26 percent had two or more workers in the household.
As for reformatting the current system, there are already limitations on the amount of time those who are considered “able-bodied” adults and don’t have children, can receive SNAP benefits. According to the USDA, they can only receive SNAP benefits for three months in a 36-month period unless they’re working, participating in a work program, physically unable to work or have a dependent child, then the limitations don’t apply.
The USDA states that there’s also flexibility for state agencies to request a waiver if unemployment rates are high or if the area can’t provide a sufficient number of jobs for employment.
The proposed changes under the federal budget proposal would limit those waivers to counties with an unemployment rate of 10 percent or more during a one-year period.
“The implication being that a lot of SNAP recipients don’t work,” Peter Ruark, senior policy analyst, Michigan League for Public Policy told WCMU Public Radio. “In fact, most SNAP recipients do work. What would be the motivation not to work? You can’t pay the rent with food assistance.”
The Food Research Action Center (FRAC), a national nonprofit organization, is calling on the Senate and House Agriculture Committees to defend and strengthen SNAP in the upcoming Farm Bill, which is up for reauthorization before it expires at the end of September.
What FRAC wants lawmakers to know about SNAP nationally:
Every federally funded SNAP dollar generates $1.79 in economic activity
Receiving SNAP in early childhood improves graduation rates, adult earnings and health
SNAP lifted 3.6 million Americans out of poverty in 2016 and is nearly as effective as the Earned Income Tax Credit in moving families above the poverty line
SNAP relieves pressure on food banks, pantries and other emergency food providers
75 percent of SNAP households have a child, a senior citizen or a person who has a disability, in the home
55 percent of SNAP households with children work and have earnings
Several CMF members support programs that enhance access to fresh, healthy food, especially for SNAP recipients.
Through the efforts of the Fair Food Network’s Double Up Food Bucks Program, supported by 25 CMF members, the program provides $1 to $1 matches on SNAP dollars to give recipients better access to healthy, fresh produce at farmers markets and grocery stores in Michigan and around the U.S.
MLive reported last week that the new Flint food hub will open this fall, providing a permanent space for the Flint Fresh Food Market and Veggie Box program, supported in part by CMF members that include the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation. The market offers the Double Up Food Bucks program as well.
Since the Double Up Food Bucks program started, there’s been more than $4.4 million in SNAP and Double Up sales across the nation. As CMF has reported, in Michigan, produce sales increased 34 percent at 12 grocery stores participating in Double Up Food Bucks.
Share your feedback with the USDA on the SNAP program online; the deadline for public comment is April 9.
Want more?
Connect with resources from FRAC.
Learn more about Double Up Food Bucks.
