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The Trump administration wants a new rule to tighten food stamp restrictions that will cut benefits from about 3.1 million people.
Currently, there are 43 U.S. states that provide automatic eligibility for food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if residents are already receiving benefits from a federal program called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
To qualify for TANF, a household must be below certain established limits and have a child under 18 that is deprived due to the absence, incapacity, or death of a parent. Adults are required to work for at least 30 hours a week. Receipt of assistance is limited to 48 months in a lifetime.
The new proposed rule would require those that have already qualified for TANF to pass another review of their income and assets to determine SNAP eligibility. Arguments against the change include concerns over increasing the complexity and time involved in verifying information for food benefits for households in difficult financial situations.
President Trump argues that many Americans don’t need SNAP benefits, because of “low unemployment” and a “strong economy.” However, SNAP currently provides food assistance to about 40 million people living in poverty. The new rule would cut 3.1 million of those people from the program.
