Congress Is About to Take Food Away From the Poorest in America

[LiberalArkie]

This April Fools’ Day, Congress will play a cruel trick on the country’s most destitute people: It will make their food disappear. They will lose access to food stamps—not because they’re no longer in need of assistance, but because, in a way, they need it too much.

A twisted legislative quirk embedded in the Clinton-era welfare reform law is timed to go into effect after March 31 in several states, blowing a gaping hole in the already threadbare social safety net.

The cuts purport to impose fiscal discipline on poor people who are “able-bodied adults without dependents” (ABAWD)—meaning adults without young children. The rule sets a three-month limit on food stamps for across a three-year period “when they aren’t employed or in a work or training program for at least 20 hours a week.”

The formula, which suggests a lack of “work ethic,” does not account for how long you’ve been searching for a job, or local social conditions. The main defining characteristic of the “able-bodied” is apparently that they’re breathing—and hungry. “These are not people who are sitting on their sofas eating bonbons,” says Margarette Purvis, head of Food Bank for New York City. “Our system does not have the adequate resources for all of these ‘able bodies’ to do exactly what the government is supposedly saying what they want them to do. The systems are not there. Plain and simple.”

Snip

http://www.thenation.com/article/congress-is-about-to-take-food-away-from-the-poorest-people-in-america/

[underpants]

1. Yet another actual news story that is getting no coverage

Thanks for posting.

[NV Whino]

2. And yet they continue to outsource or automate our jobs.

[Orrex]

3. We need this money for F-35s and whatnot.

[procon]

4. Why don't these shortsighted lawmakers ever factor in the long term consequences of their actions?

If they take away food, what do they expect will happen to all those people? Even if there were jobs aplenty, does the unemployed factory worker suddenly develop 21st century tech skills to get a job? Does the unskilled, aging widow magically look more employable, is someone with mental health problems able to work just because whey seem to be ‘able bodied’, or does the sole caregiver for elderly parents just lock them in the basement and go find an outside job?

This is food, a basic survival need, and something this country has an over abundance of, so why are we allowing all these rightwing, Ayn Rand worshipping, Republicans to use it a means to punish people who already have nothing? Just because they take away the access to food doesn't mean all those people can simply stop eating, and hunger is one of the body imperatives that demands action. Then what, those same stupid politicians who will gleefully order the arrest of anyone for stealing a loaf of bread, imprison them for $30K - $40K per year, but not allocate the minimal funds for $300 - $400 a month for food.

It just boggles the mind.

[spanone]

5. K&R...

[Viva_La_Revolution]

6. I am in ABAWD....

When i found out in Jan, i figured i would lose them cause I cant take care of Dad, my own health problems and work at the same time... for $196 per month. Then they adjusted the rules to allow unpaid work to count as barter for rent and utilities.
So now every week i send in a 'timesheet' that shows at least 20 hours of caregiving for my Dad.

I actually think this is a good idea. Volunteering for non-profits and employment search, training and school count too. Medical issues or being in drug treatment get you excused.

[KamaAina]

7. In California, SSI recipients are ineligible for SNAP

due to an archaic "cashout" provision that we're the only state still using.

http://www.ca4ssi.org