If you’re one of the 36 million Americans who receive SNAP benefits to supplement your family’s household needs, your eligibility for your food stamps could be compromised courtesy of President Trump.
According to a confirmed report from USA Today, the work requirements have increased in order to receive the SNAP benefits, which restricts “work-eligible adults” from an exemption, forcing them to work or give up their benefits.
The rule, which was finalized by the U.S. Department Of Agriculture, will officially be in place April 1, 2020. The new rule does, however, exempt children and their parents, people over 50 years old, expectant mothers and the disabled.
It was originally proposed back in February, with an expected 750,000 people to be affected. Now that it has been finalized, the estimated number of those that will no longer be eligible has dropped to 700,000.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who helped approve the new bill, says, “Americans are generous people who believe it is their responsibility to help their fellow citizens when they encounter a difficult stretch. Government can be a powerful force for good, but government dependency has never been the American dream. We need to encourage people by giving them a helping hand but not allowing it to become an indefinitely giving hand.”
