Alabama replaces work requirements on food stamps

Food stamp rolls plummet in states that restore work requirements

After the food stamp rolls swelled for years under the Obama administration, fresh figures show a dramatic reduction in states that recently have moved to restore work requirements.

States were allowed to waive those rules for able-bodied adults thanks to the 2009 economic stimulus. As the rules loosened and the economy sputtered out of the recession, food stamp enrollment soared to record levels – peaking at nearly 48 million nationwide in 2013.

But while that number has dipped gradually in recent years, some states have moved aggressively to push recipients who can work back into the job market and, in due time, off the program.

Alabama began 2017 by requiring able-bodied adults without children in 13 counties to either find a job or participate in work training as a condition for continuing to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.


Alabama replaces work requirements on food stamps

After the food stamp rolls swelled for years under the Obama administration, fresh figures show a dramatic reduction in states that recently have moved to restore work requirements.

States were allowed to waive those rules for able-bodied adults thanks to the 2009 economic stimulus. As the rules loosened and the economy sputtered out of the recession, food stamp enrollment soared to record levels – peaking at nearly 48 million nationwide in 2013.

But while that number has dipped gradually in recent years, some states have moved aggressively to push recipients who can work back into the job market and, in due time, off the program.

Alabama began 2017 by requiring able-bodied adults without children in 13 counties to either find a job or participate in work training as a condition for continuing to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

According to AL.com, the number of those recipients declined from 5,538 to 831 between Jan. 1 and the beginning of May – an 85 percent drop.

Similar changes were implemented in select counties in Georgia and by the end of the first three months, the number of adults receiving benefits in three participating counties dropped 58 percent, according to the Georgia Public Policy Foundation.

Well, I'm happy for you. Glad you won't have to spend any of your precious tax money on those "able-bodied" good-for-nothing third-class citizens! Congrats! Enjoy your party.

So, they are to participate in work training if they are unemployed.
And the problem with this is . . .

The story isn't complete. Getting people off the rolls isn't a positive accomplishment unless they actually got jobs, and are able to fend for themselves. Did the report you pasted this excerpt from mention whether or not this strategy actually solved the problem of people being unable to afford their own food? Or did it just make a politician look good to the people who resented the people getting food stamps?

Its a draw, isn't it?

ON the one hand, I understand how important employment is but I also understand it does not grow on trees.

The current 'anything is better than nothing' culture concerns me because it places ALL power unlimited into the hand of the employers to exploit peoples need for money. The work program can be a good thing when and if it leads to a living wage for someone, however, what about the potential abuse there?

Like I mentioned before, a 'work activity' can be an actual job that does not have to hire you. I have been there. The 'work activity' is supposed to be training so they can lease you out at a pinch (300 bucks a month is what my assistance was) for 30 hours a week. Thats a STEAL for the 'training' employer , so why would they hire you?

Its a hard issue to tackle but it would be nice if there were solutions that seemed like they took into consideration what is beneficial to BOTH sides, employer and employee, instead of just looking out for the employer under the guise of trying to 'help' those who need money.

Many factors go into un-employment reported #s.

USA Manufacturing at dang near stand-still. Low oil prices for long time have brought end to many smaller companies and the larger have greatly downsized.

Here's a thought....EXXON which is Mobil Oil closed their longtime headquarters building in downtown Houston. A skyscraper there many years...closed. Everyone sent home.

Low OIl $ trickles down to all.

Many out of work...professionals galore that go off unemployment benefits as time is limited. Those folks long time cannot find job and are not included in the numbers reported.

Also, with the health insurance required scam of obama...Many smaller employers went to having many more part time employees to be able to afford to stay open and not provide health insurance.

It is a complex monster sucking USA into pit of despair.

As far as this statement goes the only ones I have ever seen on Food Stamps that did not have kids are normally the elderly and the disabled...

Getting Food Stamps when single is very hard to do.. unless something is wrong with you...

I do agree that those that are able should be looking for a job if they are getting food stamps..

But seems the only one this is hurting are those that need it...

I do agree there should be guidelines on how long one can be assisted if they are able to work... But then if they are drawing unemployment they would not qualify for Food Stamps...

So again it goes back against the elderly and the disabled..

It is not as simple as it seems...

Is one that has home mortgage and kids to take care of be forced by government to take a job that will not even pay for the home?

Why, because big government says you must now work for so much less than your profession pays when you have a job in it?

A job is great for many reasons but to get wrapped up in something that is not one's expertise, desires and education?

Some folks can live on 20% of what they used to make. Most cannot.
Kind of penalized for being college educated and no jobs available.
Heck so many do have degrees today.

I remember in 1980s depression and USA broke.
Engineers working at McDonalds and such.
Many laughed and said....Good that will teach them! Really?
Envy I guess....Very evil.

I am fully disabled and I don't collect any assistance from the state. I don't qualify.

There are many unemployed that also do not qualify. People that have amassed liquid assets, have substantial bank accounts or 'other means'.

People that 'qualify' for assistance are people that are at rock bottom.
For some, the 'benefit' of assistance prevents them from seeking lower paying jobs. Change the 'benefits', people will go find a job or two.

As it is, most assistance is an on/off type deal. You either qualify or you don't. The transition is not gradual.

I remember when I was struggling and needed assistance. When I finally got a job that was paying well they cut me off ASAP. I often wished I had an extra push out of the pit. The over-time, that I was allowed, pushed me out of qualification but not every week was filled with over-time. Luckily I had a boss that rewarded performance with advancement.

I hear ya.

I have never qualified for anything myself aside from work.
I do like working however so...

I think most that get aide need it. I think the news BS of so many getting whatever is BS. Free cars....Free gas...Really? Not.

I dang sure don't want people being without food.
Medical help...Well same.

Those are Life and Death items.

I understand what you are saying, just remember the government doesn't force anyone to take assistance.

I was on assistance in the early 90s, so things have change a lot since then.

Assistance is based on your income and liquid assets.
It factors in how many are in the household and who is of working age.
If your spouse works, that income is factored into the qualification as well as their bank accounts and valuable property.

If there are two adults in the household they expect both adults to be looking for gainful employment. Child care expenses are very expensive now.
I can't count how many families I knew that could not get flush after paying child care, even with both of them working.

A case worker once told me 'perhaps you should move and sell your car for a cheaper used one'. They 'see' your need for assistance as a temporary condition. They 'expect' you to have already liquefied and used all your available means to survive and the assistance is the last resort for survival. Well, that's what I garnered from my own experience.


This alone tells me that most are not on assistance out of dire survival.
It tells me that there are jobs available but does not tell the quality of the jobs.
It also tells me that people on assistance are not as likely to look for or accept a job unless forced.
It doesn't tell me how many of the 4,707 people had to take multiple jobs or if they even went to work. They may be spending their liquid assets.
How many sold their houses? How many moved to another state? How many dissolved their household.

If we take these numbers at face value it is plain to see that more than half of the people on assistance are not in worst case survival scenarios.
I always thought that is what assistance was all about?

There are many getting Welfare that should not get it. Due to lying about income working under the table getting paid or false info...

So yes there is a problem but it is not from those that are single it is normally those that are illegal or those that give false info or ones that get on and make a living out of it getting Welfare/Food stamps...

Heck I have seen it myself where they got cash off the card turned around and bought cigs with it or everything they were buying was all junk stuff soda's ect

So yea the abuse on the system is out there but they are targeting the wrong ones.. They need to stop letting them use them at Convenience Stores where the prices are higher and they are in fact cheating the system how the cards are being used..

When I got a divorce 26 years ago it was me and 2 kids working a waitress job and all I could get was $80.00 a month and found out they did not even matter if you was illegal you could still get them even asked since they asked if I was legal if I could get them if I was illegal? They said yea we just have to ask but it does not go against one.. That alone would take lots off the system.. I got them for 6 months then was told they were going to drop the amount down.. So I did not reapply was not even worth what I had to go through taking a day off work cost me that much..

It use to be if you had a car newer then 7 years old you could not get on the system but that was many years ago..

I have seen those that live in Section 8 housing and driving brand new cars so yea there is a problem for sure..

I am not sure what this Alabama change is about.
Sounds like if you get a job...now stamps.
If you are getting stamps and have no job...no more stamps.
Maybe in Alabama only the invalid are due food?

In Texas a single person with nothing can get about $150 per month.
That is about a weeks worth food?
I just cannot imagine people doing much effort to falsely get that $150 of food? Texas one can only buy food and no cigs as mentioned by the Lady above.

I see no problem with expecting able bodies to try or get training. I know too many that need it

Hate that people expect others to try

No idea what "Hate that people expect others to try " was to mean?

What I see happening here is the qualified at nothing are getting jobs.

The more qualified are often home applying to get professional jobs that have evaporated due to economy. Heck to be PHD these days in some areas of USA in other words. The more experience and educated the less likely to find a job.

If I had no means to get food and I got $150 to buy food I would make sure that the food I buy lasts until I can buy more. I would buy foods that are healthy and can be used to make abundant meals.
Flour is a good example. You can make many different foods in abundance with flour. Its better to eat a dry biscuit than nothing at all.

Currently, I spend about $30 @ week on food. Granted, I have a lot of food stores built up. Plus, its just me and my health prevents my appetite. Needless to say, I miss meals every so often because I have no desire to eat that day.

The thing about food stamps is that they are not meant to provide sustained sustenance. They are mean to assist with. The are meant to be a temporary relief.

I would love to eat steak & lobster every day. I don't have the means to make that possible. I live within my ability.

People on assistance tend to think the should be able to maintain their lifestyles no matter their current ability. $150 is not enough, they complain. Never considering that Hey, I have no money for steak and lobster, perhaps I should eat porridge for awhile till I get back on my feet.

I don't have money for food but my cell phone bill is paid, my car payment is made and my rent is on time. Oh my, they are going to shut off my electric but how will I charge my phone? How will I watch TV?

People have a mixed up, crazy way of looking at life and what they think life owes them. Someone was sleeping during the lesson on priorities.

I have been a catetaker for my grandmother (that passedl and now my grandfather. I get it but I still worked hard. I cleaned houses for a living when I ised to do medical billing. What is wrong with expecting people to try? Sorry if you don't get it, but I am in that position. I apply for things I have been doing for 20 plus years and get bypassed for those with a degree or diplima in my field. I get it!

I remember when I was trying to decide which career to choose.
There were many choices to consider. I chose poorly.
I loved my career but by the time I got to the job market my career was over staffed. I didn't figure on so many others wanting the same career path as me.
Luckily I was versitle enough that I could do other work related to my career choice.
Specialized careers are wonderful. They are not a stable choice tho. Not only can they become over-manned, they also become obsolete. It wasn't the career that let you down it was your choices and lack of foresight.

I wanted a job in engineering. I got a job in automotive repair. It didn't pay as much so I got a better paying job in truck mechanics. My engineering education allowed me to flourish. Had I tried to hold out for the bridge inspector or OSHA job I would have had NO career at all.

I complained all about how unfair it was while I was cashing my paychecks.

I guess one of my priorities was college.
I never considered not going.
American Public schools were a disgrace even in my time of the 1970s.
Today...well....oh well.

Many blame the more educated for their problems instead of getting more education. After this 20 yrs you cited have you been attending school? sounds like you are great nurse candidate already.

You seem angry with the ones that get the job you want?

I really want a new Porsche but I don't have the $. Today.
I am not mad at anyone that has one.

I cannot imagine you would forsake yourself due to lack of crystal ball forsight.

I guess the only auto repair guys that make a decent living are the ones that own the shop? I know a guy for years....Last we talked mentioning business he was FORD Repair Shop Mgr at big Dealer. He has managed to do well. Smart guy. He isn't rich of course but lived well the 20 yrs or so I have known him. today's mechanic needs Engineering Degree and Computer Wizard!