The Department of Agriculture has proposed changes to SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps.
The new rule would say able-bodied workers, who already have limited access to SNAP, would have a new cap on how long they can access funds — and it would take away a state’s ability to override those federal rules.
The rationale from those who support the change is, while families and children might need help, the able-bodied — especially in a great economy — need to take advantage of open positions. After all, recent job numbers have been strong — 196,000 jobs were added last month, much higher than the expected 170,000.
As U.S. Rep. Tom Reed said, “We must prioritize the use of taxpayer dollars to ensure people have the skills to prosper in this job-rich opportunity environment.”
To rebut that argument, Jayson Matthews joined The Show. He’s the community impact director with the Valley of the Sun United Way, and he works with SNAP and SNAP recipients often.
