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Final week a bipartisan deal stored the U.S. from the brink of financial catastrophe and saved hundreds of thousands of jobs… however there was a value to pay for that: Additional time restrictions and harsh work necessities had been handed for 750,000 SNAP (meals stamps) recipients. [1]
Now, with main selections being made within the coming months relating to the important Supplemental Diet Help Program (SNAP) we have to make our voices heard to Congress: Fingers off SNAP!
Our work in defending SNAP and ensuring all individuals have sufficient to eat on this nation is way from over. Within the coming months Congress shall be reauthorizing the Farm Invoice, the piece of laws that determines coverage on SNAP. With such main modifications made to SNAP within the debt ceiling settlement we want members of Congress to know that our households want SNAP strengthened and well-funded, NOT rolled again—aka arms off SNAP! We have to use our voices to make it recognized that we’re sad with the modifications already put in place to this important anti-hunger program and no extra cuts, highway blocks, or obstacles must be made to this important meals program that now gives a mean of a paltry (however crucially wanted) $6 a day to these in want. Our elected leaders must be making it simpler for struggling households and folks to entry meals, not more durable!
***Add your title to our letter calling on Congress to #ProtectSNAP!
Right here’s what occurred final week: Republicans in Congress demanded dangerous price range cuts and modifications to SNAP with a purpose to increase the debt ceiling and keep away from default. [2] The Fiscal Duty Act, the debt ceiling laws, made some key modifications to SNAP:
- Raises the age from 49 to 54 on SNAP “closing dates,” which means individuals aged 18-54 shall be restricted to solely accessing SNAP for 3 months in a 3 yr interval until working not less than 20 hours every week, a part of a piece coaching program (not school), or a part of the exempt teams (listed under).
- Reduces the variety of able-bodied individuals who will be exempt from work necessities with out youngsters dwelling in the home.
On the plus aspect, new classes of individuals exempt from work necessities had been issued together with veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness, and people getting old out of foster care. That is added to the present listing of individuals exempt from work necessities: Anybody sharing a family with youngsters below 18, pregnant ladies, individuals medically licensed as bodily or mentally unfit for employment (often that is individuals legally outlined as “disabled” by our authorities).
On the finish of the day, what this implies is sort of 750,000 adults ages 50 by means of 54 may very well be newly topic to the expanded work requirement and susceptible to dropping their vitamin help below this work requirement. Practically half of these newly in danger are ladies. Many of those recipients have very low incomes, have household caregiving obligations, and have well being circumstances that would restrict their potential to work. [3]
We don’t want any extra obstacles–time limitations, work necessities, something!–to SNAP! Regardless of the stringent work necessities the Republicans are attempting to push, we all know that SNAP is a vital assist (not a hindrance) for our economic system and for staff who’re paid low wages and for these in search of work. Nobody can work when they’re hungry. SNAP helps fill the gaps for staff with low and inconsistent pay, and it helps individuals afford meals for themselves and their households during times when they’re in search of work. Most SNAP contributors who can work achieve this. However lots of the jobs commonest amongst SNAP contributors, equivalent to service or gross sales jobs, typically pay low wages and don’t provide common work hours or advantages like paid sick days and sick depart. This typically makes it troublesome for staff to earn adequate revenue to supply for his or her households and will contribute to volatility attributable to excessive job turnover. [4]
We all know SNAP works! By offering month-to-month advantages to eligible low-income individuals to buy meals, SNAP performs a important position in boosting the economic system; decreasing starvation, malnutrition, and poverty; and in bettering household safety, little one and grownup well being, employment, and different outcomes. Practically two-thirds of SNAP advantages go to households with youngsters.[5] As a result of SNAP advantages are so urgently wanted by households, they’re spent shortly — 97 % of advantages are redeemed by the tip of the month of issuance — thereby bolstering native economies. In truth, in response to current research, it’s estimated that every greenback in federally funded SNAP advantages throughout a recession generates between $1.50 and $1.80 in financial exercise. SNAP is focused to go to the lowest-income individuals in our nation. [6]
That is all of the extra motive that we want YOU to assist us defend SNAP and ensure everybody on this nation has sufficient meals to eat.
After you add your title to our letter to Congress, ahead this e mail to your family and friends and ensure they signal our letter as nicely. We have to make it recognized that mothers, dads, caregivers, and voters throughout the nation is not going to stand by quietly whereas important meals help is slashed.
Thanks for all you do to face up for our households!
-Elyssa, Hanna, Donna, Kristin, and the entire MomsRising.org & MamásConPoder Workforce
P.S. Do you at present use SNAP or have you ever ever? MomsRising desires to listen to from you! One different essential means we will ensure Congress understands how vital this program is to individuals throughout the nation is by sharing our tales with them. Share your SNAP story with us (you may even achieve this anonymously).
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References:
[1, 3] Heart on Funds and Coverage Priorities. “Debt Ceiling Settlement’s SNAP Modifications Would Improve Starvation and Poverty for Many Older Low-Revenue Individuals.” Could 31, 2023.
[2] CNN. “Right here’s who must work for presidency advantages -and who wouldn’t-under the debt ceiling package deal.” June 2, 2023.
[4,5 ] Heart on Funds and Coverage Priorities. “SNAP is and Stays Our Most Efficient Software to Fight Starvation.” February 14, 2023.Â
[6] FRAC. “Supplemental Diet Help Program.”
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