Post by Logan on Feb 19, 2016 0:18:15 GMT -6
Lawmakers to Christie: Restore food stamps for 11K residents in N.J.
TRENTON — The Assembly approved legislation Thursday that would restore food stamp benefits to 11,000 unemployed people who lost them when a temporary program expired and the Christie administration declined to seek an extension from the federal government.
Having already passed the Senate last week, the bill (S993) goes to Gov. Chris Christie, who will decide whether to sign into law.
It's unlikely he will support it, however. His administration decided against applying for a waiver under the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program that would have allowed people who live in high-unemployment counties and municipalities to continue to qualify for benefits.
People across the U.S. are required to work at least 20 hours a week to receive subsidized food aid under the federal SNAP program, formerly known as food stamps. But because of the struggling economy, a statewide waiver had been available since 2009 to allow "able-bodied adults" from age 18 to 49 without dependents to qualify for the aid without a time limit despite not fulfilling the work requirement.
Read more: www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/02/lawmakers_send_christie_a_solution_to_help_feed_11.html
TRENTON — The Assembly approved legislation Thursday that would restore food stamp benefits to 11,000 unemployed people who lost them when a temporary program expired and the Christie administration declined to seek an extension from the federal government.
Having already passed the Senate last week, the bill (S993) goes to Gov. Chris Christie, who will decide whether to sign into law.
It's unlikely he will support it, however. His administration decided against applying for a waiver under the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program that would have allowed people who live in high-unemployment counties and municipalities to continue to qualify for benefits.
People across the U.S. are required to work at least 20 hours a week to receive subsidized food aid under the federal SNAP program, formerly known as food stamps. But because of the struggling economy, a statewide waiver had been available since 2009 to allow "able-bodied adults" from age 18 to 49 without dependents to qualify for the aid without a time limit despite not fulfilling the work requirement.
Read more: www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/02/lawmakers_send_christie_a_solution_to_help_feed_11.html