Parish residents could be at risk of losing federal aid

The Trump Administration is looking at saving $2.5 billion a year by putting more than three million U.S. residents at risk of losing food stamp benefits.
The plan is to adjust the qualifications for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), also known as the food stamp program. A new rule was proposed by the Agriculture Department on Tuesday.
The USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) wants to close a “loophole,” according to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue. This “loophole” allows states to raise or do away with asset limits, which would give benefits to people who would otherwise not be eligible for SNAP. Forty U.S. states, along with Washington D.C., use this “loophole.” Currently, states are allowed to qualify people for SNAP if they qualify for other assistance benefits, such as TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income). Some states argue the asset limit discourages low-income families from saving money.
Advocates of the current system suggest it helps provide food to lower-income families who work but have large expenses such as child care and housing. If such a family’s income exceeds a certain threshold, states have the flexibility to ease that family off SNAP. Additionally, proponents say the current program qualifies free lunch to over 260,000 schoolchildren. With the new proposal, parents or guardians would have to apply separately to qualify for the lunches. The change would also eliminate benefits for the disabled and seniors if their assets exceed $3,500.
Proponents of the rule change say there are people who abuse the system. They say there are people who have a large amount of assets (i.e. savings, investments, etc.), who apply for SNAP and get assistance, even though they are income-eligible.
Under the current guidelines, SNAP recipients cannot net more money, monthly, than 100% of the poverty line. For a family of four, this would be a monthly income of $2,092.
According to the Department of Children and Family Services website, for the fiscal year of 2018, the economic impact of SNAP benefits for the Lafayette region, which includes Evangeline Parish, totaled $366,453,785, with 20.9% of the regional population receiving benefits in December 2018.
Slashing food stamps for so many people is a policy the Trump administration can enact without the approval of congress. The USDA will accept public comments on the proposed rule.