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Food Stamp Recipients Face Work Requirement
April 7, 2016
About 300,000 Floridians who qualified for food stamps now face a work requirement that went into effect Jan. 1 — and the possibility of at least temporarily losing benefits if they don’t meet the guidelines.
As of the first of the year, able-bodied, childless adults ages 18 to 49 were required to work, get job training or volunteer 20 hours a week to receive food stamps through what is formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Otherwise, they’re limited to three months of food assistance in each 36-month period.
Similar requirements also took effect in 21 other states. Gov. Rick Scott’s administration pointed to job opportunities in the state, but Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who represents a massive swath of rural communities, said food-stamp beneficiaries can’t find work in some areas.
“Especially in North Florida, in these rural counties that I represent, they have not felt this economic revival that people talk about,” Montford said. “Unemployment is still high. The jobs are not there. … The needs the SNAP program meets, I would say the needs in these rural counties are just as great as they were in 2009.”
The work requirement dates back to a 1996 welfare overhaul, but the federal government waived it in 2009 during the economic recession. Now, after unemployment rates have dropped, states are resuming the use of the work requirement.
The left-leaning Center for Budget and Policy Priorities said 21 Florida counties have jobless rates high enough and sustained enough to qualify for an exemption from the work mandate from the federal government.
“A few Southeastern states are electing to re-implement the time limit statewide even though some or all of the state qualifies for a waiver,” the center reported last month, noting that 500,000 to 1 million people will lose their food stamps in 2016. “Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi and North Carolina will be particularly hard hit.”
Scott’s administration sees a brighter picture because of the economy, and people will be able to continue receiving food stamps if they meet the work requirements.
Department of Children and Families spokeswoman Michelle Glady said in an email that the state’s unemployment rate is at an eight-year low of 4.9 percent.
“No Floridian currently receiving benefits will lose their eligibility,” Glady said. “However, they must meet minimum federal requirements for work, volunteering or active job search activities.”
Department of Economic Opportunity spokeswoman Morgan McCord echoed Glady and also said the state is trying to help people meet the requirements.
“In every county around the state, Florida’s CareerSource centers are working to help beneficiaries meet those requirements,” McCord wrote in an email. “Since January 1, 2016, 106,129 people have been placed into new jobs by the state’s 24 CareerSource locations.”
But others, such as Montford, say the state is diverse, and economic conditions vary.
For instance, in the district of Sen. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, people have been coming to his office for help after losing their food-stamp benefits. He said many are working, but their low-wage jobs don’t add up to 20 hours a week.
“They’re being penalized even though they’re trying, even though their effort is good,” Bullard said.
What’s more, tens of thousands of Floridians were sanctioned for not complying with the mandate in the first month.
“If you don’t comply, what will happen is that you will immediately be sanctioned and lose your food stamps, even though you haven’t yet used up your three-month time limit,” said Cindy Huddleston of Florida Legal Services.
In January, 67,982 Floridians were sanctioned for not meeting the work requirement, thereby losing their food stamps “for a minimum of one month or until they comply with the work requirement, whichever is longer,” according to a letter sent to beneficiaries by the state. For a second act of noncompliance, the penalty is the loss of benefits for at least three months.
“By the nature of the work requirements and the exemptions and exceptions to the work requirements, it’s really mostly affecting the most vulnerable people that don’t have any other social safety net in place,” said Liam McGivern of Legal Services of Greater Miami.
Food-stamp benefits are typically worth $150 to $170 per month. The potential loss of benefits does not apply to people who have children or disabilities or to seniors.
The Department of Children and Families could ask the federal government to waive the work mandate. But a budget bill passed during a special legislative session last June would require the department to get legislative authority before applying for such a waiver.
“I would certainly encourage DCF to approach the Legislature, get permission, and request another waiver,” Montford said.
Debra Susie, executive director of Florida Impact, which works to reduce hunger and poverty, said the group is also concerned about what will happen to food banks and other non-profits that were already stretched thin by the recession.
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
Comments
30 Responses to “Food Stamp Recipients Face Work Requirement”
REGARDING:
“i’m sure your children when they become grown adults will follow suit ”
Most likely, since they’ve been taught that they have a right to whatever others earned, they will just cut out the middle man and directly take whatever they want from the owners rather than wait for the government to take its cut first.
At some point they will be shot and killed or jailed while doing so and we will be told society is to blame and that we need to give more. Others will pass judgment on us for judging them to have done something bad against their neighbors.
David for better people
@ Tony ,,, You and your thinking, and all the others moochers are part of the problem and i,m sure your children when they become grown adults will follow suit because little rabbits have big ears .
@ Trump2016 get over it because it is my right. You have fun at work and thanks for the grocery money.
@Tony If you can’t find a job where you are, then move! Believe me, I understand the low paying job situation. That’s why I work out of town and am only home on weekends…..it’s called sacrificing for your family. I also have to ask, are you accessing the internet from the library on a publicly funded computer or do you have your very own device and internet connection to do so? If so, maybe you should give up some luxuries and buy food!
@Danny First of all, thank you for your service as a Marine to this country. I firmly believe veterans deserve benefits…..they paid for that right by voluntarily serving. I find it deplorable that illegal aliens have more benefits than our veterans. Come to this country illegally and receive free health care, free housing and a free education. And yes, the Democrats can be thanked for that debacle!!
Nobody has a right to food stamps. It isn’t like Social Security where you spend your working years paying into a system so that you will have benefits down the road. Serving in the military does not confer a right to food stamps or any other welfare benefits. Owning a home means you have an asset to sell or borrow against so that you don’t need government assistance.
Food stamps are a privilege that is all too often abused by people who believe the government or society owes them something, or by people who continue to have children secure in the knowledge that they will get more of a handout for every child. I wish the entire program would be scrapped in favor of the old commodities program.
I think this should apply to those with children who are in school all day. They can work too. 20 hours a week for additional training or even volunteer work is certainly doable.
Need to trash all food stamps- go back to the old days of getting commodities – peanut butter- butter-chipped beef in a can etc…try and trade a can of peanut butter for drugs.
In the 50s and 60s – how the hell did we get buy without a government paid Obama cell phone.
Drug dealers are still loving our President for the Obama phones
The world has become lazy and expects something for doing nothing
Tony, I think it should be my RIGHT, as a taxpayer, to not give you one penny of my hard-earned money. “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Get out there and pursue your own damn money. Work is available for anybody that wants it. “Can’t find a job,” is a LIE and an EXCUSE to be a bloodsucking bum.
@ Tony i agree with u i deserve these thing i payed my taxes 32 years applied for foodstamp disable can/t work and they gave me 16 dollars now tell me what wrong with this picture i was told the reason is because i own my home
@Tony – sorry. You do not have a “right”. You have a RESPONSIBILITY to provide for your family. That INCLUDES relocating if you can’t find work in this area. The taxpayers should not have to be obligated to support you while you sit at home discussing your distorted views about “rights”.
I read the article to say ABLE BODY ADULT without children. This does not mean diabaled people or children losing benefits. I agree with this requirement. I also saw where it said work or volunteer for 20 hours a week.
I’m seeing all kinds of complaints about not having jobs, or hours being below 20 hr.
The wild life sanctuary, Habitat for Humanity, and the local shelters always need volunteers. You can even picking up trash from sides of roads, wash ambulances and police cars there are many options out there.
If you want the money, do something productive and get a paying job or volunteer for a non profit. You may find a career you enjoy and are good at. If not, at least you are giving back to the community that is and has been supporting you!
The choice is yours to make. If you can’t find work, then volunteer. If you choose not to do either, then you don’t receive benefits.
@ Cindy I find it interesting that you ask that question. Yes I have a right to those items because it’s not my fault the economy is bad and there are no good paying jobs in the area, so yes it is my right.
Unfortunately social programs such as welfare, while intended to be a good thing and it can be has become a way of life for millions of people. Welfare recipients are rewarded with more welfare for having more children and by the way tax payer healthcare is included with that along with a host of other programs. dealing with a certain segment of our population is always going to be a challenge but to encourage and reward people to stay on welfare when they can and have the means to work is just irresponsible at least, we should want all American’s to be working and be productive in our society as it will only prosper our nation and us as a whole. welfare should only be used for a set period of time and ended at that point period.
Well I agree with Tony. When I had a good paying job I had very little back in 2003-2009. I lost my job and got food stamps, welfare, free health insurance among other things. I suddenly had much more. Me my wife have kids and we don’t have to work very much. We have a nice place with a pool and everything we need. I served in the Marines from 03-09 so I earned these benefits and yes they are my rights I deserve them and so does my family. They better not take what I earned and deserve.
@Tony – So you actually think you have a “Right” to Food Stamps that are paid for with money taken from Working Citizens? Please Tony, show us where you get that “Right”! But if you are worried about losing the benefit, then do as the article says…get training, do the 20 hours or…WOW…get a Job!
“Chances are if you get a job you won’t need food stamps.”
The typical gross income level requirement is less than or equal to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). For 2016, $11,880 for a family of one. A single person working a low-wage job could easily fall into that category. Getting a job is not a miracle cure for getting out of poverty.
“They should also be drug tested before getting food stamps!!”
Florida did this, albeit briefly, in 2011. It was a huge waste of taxpayer dollars. From July to October 2011, 2.6% tested positive.
I’m glad they have changed it. I am a single mother with no help from their father or family around to hwlp us. I worked full time and went to night school for a degree. I have received benefits and still do bit not much. Even with my degree and working in the medical field I cannot survive with two children. I pay over half my pay check in daycare. We bearly make it pay check to pay check but the little I do get from my benefits feed my children and I am very thankful for this. We do not have cable, internet, or luxurious like most people and I am also thankful for that. My children do not act like spoiled brats but are thankful for what we have. I think you should have to work to deserve benefits and work hard. In the summer I have to work two jobs because almost my entire check goes to daycare. It’s life and you need to earn things and be thankful. Once my boys won’t need daycare full time next year we will no longer be on benefits and that’s how it should be only in the time of need. Not all your life.
REGARDING:
“I better not lose mine. I have a right and a family to feed.”
Since it doesn’t apply to people with families, you should be good to stay at the trough.
Functional illiteracy should also help stay on.
Actually, though, nobody has “a right” to other people’s property, not even money.
We give it to the needy because we’re so generous and loving.
Also, 1996 legislation. Is Bill Clinton administration (Republican legislature, but his campaign promise)
David for understanding and love
FOR VIVKIE
“and governor rick Scott needs to put a stop to all this permit carp it’s costing me almost 6000.$ to move into Fla in the rural area the lower part of Fla…I will be making this a public issue.I know it’s been like this for years permits for everything…I own my land not the state I should be able to do what I won’t on my own property”
The permitting process is in effect to help the homeowner by keeping your insurance premiums low. If insurance companies can validate that alterations or new builds have been inspected and passed to code then they have no reason to hike your rates after a hurricane or flood. You will be thankful the next time a hurricane comes through and your neighbors roof didn’t fly off and damage your home because it was permitted and inspected.
@Tony….I find it interesting that you think you “have a right” to welfare/food stamps as well as calling it “a good thing”. Living on welfare is a good thing?
Good Job Tallahassee! Chances are if you get a job you won’t need food stamps. Hopefully this will encourage able bodied people between 18-49 to get a job and better themselves instead of remaining jobless and sucking of the back of all the other hardworking Floridians. Its about TIME! They should also be drug tested before getting food stamps!! Then they might be able to pass a drug test and get a job!
When I was younger I received food stamps for me and my child.
But by no means did I plan on living that way my whole life as some do. I
was working fulltime at the time as well. I had this help for about 2 years but as I stated-I was working and paying taxes as everyone else was. I was ashamed to go to the grocery store and pull out my EBT card. It was embarrassing for me, even though I needed that help. I know families that encourage their daughters to get pregnant and have baby after baby so they can get that check, free housing, free food, utility help, free daycare…..its ridiculous! This system needed to be revised. It’s not being used the way it should. If people are selling their EBT cards, hello…they obviously don’t need it to feed their family-so how did they qualify. I can tell you that too-they lie. Noone checks up on the applications to verify anything..they never did me but I was honest. I didn’t have a brand new Cadillac sitting in my front yard as alot of these “needy” people do. They put the car in someone else’s name so they don’t have to claim it. WAKE UP GOVERNMENT–PEOPLE LIE TO GET ALL YOUR FREE OFFERINGS!!! There are jobs out there, its just that these low life’s think they should start out making $50k a year or its not worth them getting out of bed for. And lets not even bring up the fact the majority never bothered to even finish high school, let alone any further education..which by the way, the government pays for that too if you qualify. Thankfully for me, I did-and I used it to better myself and to be able to get a good job and get off ALL public assistance within that 2 year period.
I absolutely agree with this law, we have to “force” people to get out and look for a job. Unfortuantely, it’ll probably be just like unemployment where all you have to do is call on the phone to 5 different places a week (that you know you don’t qualify for) and ask “Are you hiring”? You then write it down on your form and fax it in and you’re good to go for another week of not working and still draw your money.
I don’t claim to know what all the answers are, but I can sure tell you that at least someone is willing to try something different here and motivate these people to get off their butts and start working for a living like the rest of the world! I hope this produces positive results, but I have serious doubts on this ever changing some people/families.
Did anyone actually read the article before commenting?
I better not lose mine. I have a right and a family to feed. Leave it go a republican to mess up a good thing.
I’m a bit confused. Things have changed over the past year or so and how programs are renamed can throw me off. Is food stamps the same as actual welfare? At one time, any hard worker could get help during a difficult time such as lay-offs etc by food stamps. Where as welfare includes much more… Such as a monthly check. Any thoughts to help clear this up for me?
>>>Here is a question: what about the elderly or the disabled who actually can’t work?
Second line of the story says “childless adults ages 18 to 49 were required to work, get job training or volunteer 20 hours a week “
Their is a man at my job that only has one arm, he works in another department, whenever you see him it seems he is working faster, harder than those around him.
And then you see others bee-boping down the street all day, with their pants on the ground doing nothing with their lives, I say cut the money off completely, let them starve, I say this without apology!! There are many leaches out there, taking advantage of the American taxpayers.
If people have kids at home .they should get a minimum amount a least to feed them .if nothing but beans anything…and governor rick Scott needs to put a stop to all this permit carp it’s costing me almost 6000.$ to move into Fla in the rural area the lower part of Fla…I will be making this a public issue.I know it’s been like this for years permits for everything…I own my land not the state I should be able to do what I won’t on my own property.less and less people are staying out of Fla because of this reason…and the people working in the office in pensacola are a high played joke won’t help you it’s sad give you the runaround …how is the elderly treated on this when they need help moving into Fla ..are the disabled because I know how they did me …governor Scott you need to look into this it needs to be better
WOW, what a unique idea, letting able bodied people work instead of drawing welfare. Who would have thought of that?
Here is a question: what about the elderly or the disabled who actually can’t work?Do they lose food assistance? I know several older folks who garden because they don’t get enough to eat otherwise. And BTW, finding a job that makes you a living wage in northwest Fl. is hard because Escambia County is one of the poorest in the US, not just Florida.