Another round of food stamp cuts in states, By Jake Grovum, March 26, 2014, Stateline: “A fresh round of food stamp cuts at the state level are underway, on top of federal food stamp reductions that hit millions of Americans twice since November. In some states, policymakers have imposed additional cuts that jeopardize benefits for hundreds of thousands. The impact of the reductions is just beginning to take hold, or soon will…”
Tag: Budget cuts
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- States resist food stamp cuts, By Jake Grovum, March 17, 2014, Stateline: “Using a wrinkle in federal law, at least seven states and the District of Columbia are blocking as much as $1.2 billion in food stamp cuts, preserving federal benefits for millions of people who otherwise would have had them cut by about $90 each month. Of the 14 states and the District of Columbia affected by the cuts, at least seven states (Connecticut, Montana, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont) plus D.C. are moving to block them, according to a Stateline survey. The others — California, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin — are considering doing the same…”
- Who uses food stamps? Millions of children, By Allison Linn, March 17, 2014, NBC News: “Tens of millions of American children are among the recipients of food stamps, according to a new report that casts light on who benefits from the program that has been the subject of heated political debate. The annual report from the United States Department of Agriculture showed that about 45 percent of food stamp benefits went to children under 18, totaling about 20 million youngsters. Nine percent of recipients were age 60 or older, and nearly 10 percent were disabled adults who were under 60, according to the analysis of food stamp usage for the fiscal year that ended in September 2012…”
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- States finding ways to skirt cuts in food stamps, frustrating congressional goals, By Derek Wallbank and Alan Bjerga, March 9, 2014, Washington Post: “Congress last month passed a revamp of agriculture and food policy that was supposed to save the U.S. government $8.6 billion in food-stamp costs over a decade. That may not happen, though, now that some states are finding a way to avoid the cuts. New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania are triggering extra nutrition spending by adding money to a home-heating subsidy tied to increased food-stamp aid. The move feeds needy families while thwarting spending-reduction goals…”
- Ohio to begin staggering release of food stamps, By Catherine Candisky, March 9, 2014, Columbus Dispatch: “Ohio will begin staggering distribution of food-stamp benefits next month. The change comes at the request of grocers who say stores are swamped at the beginning of each month, creating long lines, shortages of produce and other items, and the need for additional staff. Like many groceries, Buehler’s Fresh Foods in Delaware is busiest the first week of each month when many people receive their paychecks, Social Security benefits or food stamps…”