Posted October 29, 2013
 
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as “food stamps,” will be cut at the end of the week, according to an article by The Hill available here.
 
It is unlikely that Congress will act to avert what some are calling the “food stamp cliff.”  The cut, which will affect about 47 million people, will take place on November 1 and will end a funding increase that was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) stimulus legislation. 
 
The amount of the cut depends on household size.  For a family of four, the cut will be $36 per month or about 20 meals under the Department of Agriculture’s estimate for the cost of a “thrifty meal.”  Single adults will have their monthly benefits reduced to $189 per month, for a cut of $11.  For more specific information on the cuts to SNAP benefits, an article by USDA is available here.
 
Lisa Davis of the food bank network Feeding America said, “We have never seen a cut like this affecting all beneficiaries.  With the government shutdown and other national and international issues going on, many people have no idea this is coming.”
 
SNAP benefits have been a contentious issue between the House and the Senate over the farm bill legislation.  The House bill cuts SNAP by $40 billion, while the Senate bill cuts $4 billion.  These cuts primarily come from provisions that would make qualifying for SNAP more difficult while receiving other aid like home heating assistance, and halting state waivers for work requirements.
 
The farm bill conference is set to begin on October 30.

 

For more information on nutrition program and farm bills please visit the National Agricultural Law Center hereand here.
 
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