Changes to Food Stamp Policy – Indiana

Indiana changes food stamp policy that drew fire, By Charles Wilson (AP), July 21, 2010, Seattle Times: “Indiana will no longer reduce a state grocery benefit paid to hundreds of developmentally disabled people simply because they receive food stamps, the state government announced Wednesday. Indiana Family and Social Services Administration spokesman Marcus Barlow said state officials decided to change the policy after discussions with the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service. Advocates and legal experts said the 10-year-old policy was a clear violation of federal law that says food stamps can’t be counted against other benefits. The policy was the target of a lawsuit filed this month on behalf of a 26-year-old autistic Indianapolis man, and has been the subject of an investigation and two stories by The Associated Press. Barlow said the lawsuit and media attention “brought it to our attention, definitely.” Since 1964, federal law has barred states from counting food stamps as income or using them to reduce any other public benefits. Legal experts said the law was clear. But since 2000, Indiana’s food stamp policy has affected people with developmental disabilities who need financial help to live independently and who receive additional assistance to buy groceries. Under that system, when the federal government raised food stamp amounts, Indiana officials reduced state grocery allowances so a person’s total food benefits did not exceed $200 a month…”