SNAP benefit changes could be on the way for a number of states that are currently considering bills regarding the nationwide welfare program.
Commonly known as food stamps, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) pays out monthly amounts to low and no-income households across America and its territories. Recipients access the funds through an electronic benefit transfer card (EBT), which can be used at participating stores to buy food and drink.
While SNAP is funded by the federal government, it is administered at state level, meaning each state can set its own rules for eligibility. For example, states can set the income thresholds for who can claim, and each can set its own payment dates.
This has led to a broad range of bills involving SNAP currently on the table in numerous U.S. states. While the following bills have not yet become law, they are going through the legislative process and could affect benefit recipients in the near future.
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Arizona
Two SNAP bills are currently being considered in Arizona. House Bill 2502 would require able-bodied SNAP recipients between the ages of 18 and 60 to undergo an employment and training program.
Separately, House Bill 2503 would prohibit Arizona’s Department of Economic Security from seeking or renewing work requirement waivers for those aged between 18 and 52 who do not have any dependents and are also able-bodied.
Iowa
Lawmakers in Iowa are working on a bill that would limit what SNAP recipients are permitted to buy using their EBT cards. Under the proposal, claimants would not be allowed to buy “candy and non-sugar-free soda” with the state benefit.
Kentucky
Earlier this year, lawmakers in Kentucky’s House of Representatives voted to approve House Bill 367 which would implement a financial asset test and make income requirements stricter for SNAP applicants.
The bill, which is yet to go through the Senate, would reinstate maximum asset limits of $2,750 for SNAP applicants and drop the limit for gross income from 200 percent of the poverty level to 130 percent.
Nebraska
Nebraskans who claim SNAP benefits may also have to undergo a work and training program if Republican sponsored LB 1381 becomes law. The state already has a work and training program in place, but it is currently voluntary.
The bill would also bar any person with “three or more felony convictions for the possession or use of a controlled substance” and anyone convicted with the sale or intent to sell drugs from claiming SNAP benefits.
The bill outlines that anyone with “one or two felony convictions for the possession or use of a controlled substance” can only claim SNAP if they have completed a substance abuse treatment program.
Ohio
According to a report by Cleveland.com, SNAP benefits could increase for older Ohio SNAP claimants under House Bill 428. It stipulates that anyone receiving less than $50 per month in food stamps would get a supplemental payment to make sure their benefits reach at least $50 per month.
The bill has been co-signed by 20 House Democrats in the state, with Republican State Representative Jay Edwards also signing. Edwards chairs the State House Finance Committee, which will hear the bill.
West Virginia
SNAP claimants in West Virginia may need to take part in a work and training program, similar to Arizona, Kentucky and Nebraska.
Under current rules, able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 52 are required to work to obtain SNAP funds, but SB562 could see the age increased to 59 for able-bodied people without dependents.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.