CBPP Releases Report on Cuts to Food Stamps

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released a report on cuts to SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) today:

A CBPP report out today explains why roughly 1 million of the nation's poorest people will be cut off of SNAP (formerly food stamps), in 2016. This is because in many areas waivers of the three-month limits on SNAP benefits for unemployed adults ages 18-50 who aren't disabled or raising minor children are ending.

These individuals will lose their food assistance benefits after three months regardless of how hard they are looking for work.

In the past few years, the three-month limit hasn't been in effect in most states. The 1996 welfare law allows states to suspend the three-month limit in areas with high and sustained unemployment; many states qualified due to the Great Recession and its aftermath and waived the time limit throughout the state. But as unemployment rates fall, fewer and fewer areas will qualify for waivers.

The loss of benefits will likely increase hardship for these 1 million unemployed Americans who rely on upon SNAP to meet their basic nutritional needs.

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