Sec. of Ag. Attacks PA. Plan to Cut Off Food Stamps to Households With $2K of Assets

[JPZenger]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/138175019.html

Excerpts from Phila. Inquirer article:

"The federal official in charge of the U.S. food stamp program said Thursday that Pennsylvania's plan to tie food-stamp benefits to people's assets will save the state nothing and create more problems than it solves. Sec. of Agriculture Tom Vilsack ..said the asset test "is not going to save the commonwealth a single dime," and would, in fact, cost the state money to implement.

Mayor Nutter, at a City Hall news conference with Vilsack, was more pointed. "This is one of the most mean-spirited, asinine proposals to come out of Harrisburg in decades," he said. "I literally cannot understand what problem they are trying to solve."

The asset test, as described by the Department of Public Welfare, would deny food stamps to senior citizens with $3,250 or more in savings and assets. For people under 60, the figure is $2,000.... Vilsack said that most SNAP recipients "play by the rules," and that 75 percent of people who get SNAP benefits are senior citizens on low, fixed incomes, as well as children and people with disabilities. Only 8 percent of SNAP recipients receive cash welfare, he said."

[Kalidurga]

1. Does that include a paid off house?

I know a lot of people with their homes that are paid off. Yet, if they lost their job/s they would still have a huge problem paying off all their other bills, property taxes, and not have enough left for food.

[HopeHoops]

2. It doesn't include your house or first car - EVERYTHING ELSE is included.

That means your kitchen utensils, books, furniture - pretty much anything you would own if you weren't homeless and if you were, you wouldn't have a permanent address so you don't qualify anyway.

[liberal N proud]

3. I suppose another 1 percenter needs another tax cut.

Kicking those who are down on their luck to achieve their agenda.

[JPZenger]

4. $2,000 asset test

The $2,000 limit does not include the value of a home, but it screws over a person trying to save up money for their next couple rent payments. Money set aside to pay medical bills, real estate taxes or a major home repair would be counted and could easily put a low income household over the $2000 limit. College accounts for children or money saved up to pay a tuition bill would also count towards the $2,000, so if you saved up for college, your family cannot eat. It doesn't include retirement accounts, but millions of people have been raiding those to pay for food.

It includes a second car per household if that car is worth more than $4,500. In many rural areas, people need reliable cars to travel long distances to jobs and job interviews. If you have a car worth $4,600, you have to sell it and buy a car worth less before you can eat. Remember many households collecting food stamps have household members who work - they are the working poor.

These numbers are apparently per household, not per person.

I am not opposed to an asset test - but $2,000 per household is ridiculously low. The Corbettites are saying you have to hit rock bottom before you can eat.

Also, remember that Federal dollars pay for food stamps. The state dollars pay for administration. Therefore, if the Corbettites increase the administrative requirements, it will cost the states and counties much more money to comply, not save money.

[liberal N proud]

5. Yes, It's insane and absurd

That second car might be necessary in someo of these families where each spouse is holding 2 minimum wage jobs just to make payments.

They are punishing people because their luck ran out.

I am apposed to an asset test period, because it forces people to liquidate just because they ran out of luck.

[durablend]

6. Gas drillers!

They needs their bennies! After all, you don't think that gas will keep coming out of the ground forever?