Trump administration proposal endangers food stamps for millions

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Three proposed rule changes by the Trump administration could cause millions of poor people to lose access to food stamps and decrease the size of the benefit for millions more.

Over the past year, the Department of Agriculture proposed three changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP or food stamps. The new rules create stricter work requirements for program eligibility, cap deductions for utility allowances and "reform" the way 40 states automatically enroll families into SNAP when they receive other forms of federal aid.

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.

"https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/trump-administration-proposal-endangers-food-stamps-for-millions/ar-BBXxZta?li=BBnbfcL

[dhill926]

1. and reduce the surplus population...

scrooge fucks....

[Newest Reality]

2. That's the real deal...

Behind his puffy, bloviating mask, policies like this show the monster behind the orange grimace.

From what I recall, half the people who receive SNAP are children. Most of us already know that SNAP often compensates for extremely low wages, so it is, in a sense, a form of corporate welfare since the corporations are getting away with wages that could now be called "starvation". That's the dirty secret behind so many people NEEDING SNAP.

There's that newspeak, Republican bull about "the dignity of work". What dignity is there working hard and not getting paid enough to afford the necessities of life? That's the kind of propaganda they use to remove the safety nets that did provide some case welfare. It is specious and disingenuous to equate SNAP with that now since it is not cash assistance but for food only and, last time I checked, you don't work or live without food. It is a necessity, not a luxury or a disincentive. I mean, really, "Oh, I have my free food, no need to work!". What? The rhetoric is dangerous and preposterous.

If Trump wins the very food out of their mouths, I wonder just how the base will make excuses for it if they rely on SNAP.

I am a senior recipient, so that's a disclosure. No SNAP at this point would equal starvation, period.

I would like to add that SNAP, from what I have seen, does not have an actual COLA that corresponds to food prices. The last increase in many years was $2.00 a month. If you watch food prices, you may find that upsetting for your budget, but every increase decreases the buying power of SNAP, so people who rely on it partially or completely, (like myself) will eat less and less over time. In truth, they may be deflecting from the fact that SNAP needs to be tied to the cost of food now more than ever, or it is a losing game for children, seniors and working adults.

That is, unless your plan is to get rid of all the "useless eaters" in a slow and subtle way and stamp the word "dignity" on that.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

3. Thank you for sharing.

I have several friends that depend on SNAP and I depend on Social Security. Any cut usually translates to both eating less AND eating a less balanced diet, as people will buy more foods that provide volume like beans and rice rather than those foods plus fresh fruits and vegetables.

As is their standard practice, they hit those with little or no voice with most of their cuts.

GOP = Cruelty-R-Us......

[Skittles]

10. thank you, Newest Reality

it is very important that the people who receive SNAP benefits speak up

[Ohiogal]

4. #2 and #3 posts

Excellent

[Midnight Writer]

5. And another screwing for the farmers, who supply food paid for by SNAP.

[struggle4progress]

6. +

[OhNo-Really]

7. I read somewhere recently

Sorry no link

But boxes of food is on the table again

Nothing begets crime more than hunger

[Faux pas]

8. Soft kill

for "useless eaters". and

[I_UndergroundPanther]

9. I despise republicans

Wish I could lock them in a room and make them feel real hunger. Like the kind of hunger they think it's okay to put poor people through. I still dream republicans die off in the future and thier party dies. I hate them,and the rich.