SNAP Benefits Change for the Unemployed

Remember back when everyone was all up in arms over a Missouri legislator's proposal to limit the foods that may be purchased with SNAP benefits? Well, it's not the same story but similar. Unemployed people in 22 states now have 3 months to find a job or lose their food assistance.

According to Alabama Public Radio, the unemployed were given three months of SNAP benefits unless they were caring for children or are disabled. Apparently, that three-month cap had been waived during the recession, but now that the economy is improving, the time limits are being reimposed. (Note: This has no effect on those who are working but not making enough to buy groceries.)

Unemployed people ages 18 to 50 who aren't caring for a dependent or child and who have no disabilities will once again be limited to three months of benefits. Once those three months are up, the recipient must be working or in a training program at least 80 hours per month to receive SNAP benefits.

The six states which reimposed the time limit on all their SNAP recipients this year include the following: Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey and Tennessee. These states went from statewide waivers to no waivers at all.

Sixteen others had a statewide waiver last year and are now enforcing the time limit in some areas. These states are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington and West Virginia.