Discussion: Welfare Reform: Let's Talk About It

Giselle

Quote:

Last year Maine passed a measure that would require recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as SNAP, to complete a certain number of work, volunteer, or job-training hours before being eligible for assistance.

Main Governor Paul LaPage passed the measure last year and the resulting drop in food-stamp enrollees has been dramatic.

At the close of 2014 approximately 12,000 individuals were enrolled in the state assistance program. Keep in mind that these individuals are adults who aren’t disabled and who don’t have children at home and who are claiming the food-stamp benefits because of a lack of financial resources.

After forcing these individuals to either work part-time for twenty hours each week, enroll in a vocational program, or volunteer for a minimum of twenty-four hours per month, the numbers showed a significant drop from 12,000 enrollees to just over 2,500.

http://www.usherald.com/maine-welfar...heir-benefits/

A lot of people seem to be having an issue with this policy. What are your thoughts?

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IBeMe

this is a really good idea tbh. the ppl complaining are lazy.

my mother's friend needed to enroll in welfare after her divorce. she just needed financial help for like 3 months. and the one condition they gave her was tat she works at least 20 hours. they hooked her up with a part time job and bam! soon enough that part time job became her full time gig and she left welfare! its good

Artemisia

I don't understand; you already had to have some kind of income to be eligible for SNAP...

Quote:

Under federal rules, to qualify for SNAP benefits, a household must meet three criteria (although states have flexibility to adjust these limits):

Its gross monthly income generally must be at or below 130 percent of the poverty line, or $2,144 (about $25,700 a year) for a three-person family in fiscal year 2015. Households with an elderly or disabled member need not meet this limit.

Its net monthly income, or income after deductions are applied for items such as high housing costs and child care, must be less than or equal to the poverty line (about $19,800 a year or $1,650 a month for a three-person family in fiscal year 2015).

That article is obviously biased.

EDIT:

I also found this on the USDA website

Quote:

Work Rules: With certain exceptions, able-bodied adults between 16 and 60 years of age must register for work, accept an offer of suitable work, and take part in an employment and training program to which they will be referred by the SNAP office.

Generally, able-bodied adults aged 18 to 50 who do not have children and are not pregnant can only get SNAP benefits for 3 months in a 3-year period unless they are working or participating in a work or workfare program. There are a few exceptions.

alexanderao

The measure in the OP is a decent idea.

Welfare is supposed to be used in situations like the one iBeMe described. Instead, some people use it as a more permanent source of income, and this isn't efficient or ideal because the welfare isn't being used in a constructive way- some of these people aren't even looking for work.