17,000 Washington students could lose free meals over food stamp changes
SEATTLE -- More than 3 million Americans are at risk of losing food stamps under a Trump administration proposal.
The rule change would limit who is eligible for assistance and the ripple effects will trickle all the way down to Washington schools.
Some say Washington families are at a higher risk of being impacted by proposed changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - or SNAP - eligibility. That's because the costs of living and childcare are more expensive than the national average.
"The poverty rate in Washington state is not the same as federal poverty rate, so allowing families who earn up to 200 percent of the poverty level, boy those families are still really struggling," said Rep. Kim Schrier, D-8th District.
Under federal law, people with a household income of up to 130 percent of the poverty level qualify for SNAP. That's about $27,000 for a family of three.
Current rules under broad-based categorical eligibility allow states to increase income limits up to 200 percent of the poverty level, or about $42,000 for that family of three. About 40 states take advantage of this option.
But it's the broad-based categorical eligibility that the Trump administration is proposing change. President Donald Trump's Department of Agriculture says the most at-risk under this proposal are seniors and those dealing with disabilities.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/money/17000-washington-students-could-lose-free-meals-over-food-stamp-changes/ar-AAFjAlA