Rule Changes for SNAP

Colorado currently has about 442,000 individuals on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.

No restrictions to those families were expected with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill passed without new restrictions to SNAP sought by House Republicans.

But changes are coming as Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says his agency will restrict waivers that states use to extend benefits to some recipients.

".. I recommended to the president to sign the Farm Bill because I knew and I communicated to him that I believe we can make improvements to SNAP through the regulatory process."

Currently, able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) must work or be in a workforce training program for at least 80 hours per month; if they don't, they can receive just three months of benefits over three years . State waivers can suspend this three-month time limit when there is high unemployment or low job availability in the respective state.

The top-ranking Democrat on the Senate agriculture committee Debbie Stabenow says the rule change will face significant opposition and legal challenges. She told the Washington Post that This regulation blatantly ignores the bipartisan Farm Bill. "Congress writes laws, and the administration is required to write rules based on the law," "Administrative changes should not be driven by ideology. I do not support unilateral and unjustified changes that would take food away from families."

Critics of the idea such as the Union of Concerned Scientists says finding stable employment in this timeframe is rarely possible under the best circumstances. Last year, nearly 40 percent of all people able to work and looking for jobs couldn't find work within 15 weeks. As of now, 29 states are offering partial waivers for ABAWD work requirements, and seven states and territories are providing statewide waivers.

A spokesman for the group says by the administration's own calculations, "the rule could jeopardize food assistance for some 755,000 Americans struggling to find stable work,"

Once the proposed changes are published there will be a 60 day comment period.