TO CHANGE ELIGIBILITY FOR FOOD
STAMPS, OR THE SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,
HAS BEEN FINALIZED BY THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
IN TONIGHT'S LOOK AHEAD, MARISA
WOJCIK BRINGS US THESE FAST
FACTS ON THE FINALIZED RULE AND
WHAT IT MEANS FOR WISCONSIN.
>> CHANGES IN ELIGIBILITY RULES
FOR FEDERAL FOOD ASSISTANCE,
KNOWN AS THE SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR
SNAP, ARE NOW SET TO GO INTO
EFFECT IN APRIL OF NEXT YEAR.
THESE CHANGES WOULD LIMIT SNAP
BENEFITS BASED ON TITLE WORK
REQUIREMENTS.
THE SNAP PROGRAM REQUIRES
ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT
DEPENDENTS TO WORK 80 HOURS PER
MONTH IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FOOD
ASSISTANCE.
HOWEVER, SOME GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WAIVE THIS
RULE FOR ECONOMIC AND EMPLOYMENT
IN THAT AREA.
THE RULE WILL LIMIT THESE AREAS
TO GET THIS WAIVER.
IT COULD TAKE AWAY FOOD
ASSISTANCE FOR ALMOST 700,000
PEOPLE.
IN WISCONSIN, IT'S NOT YET KNOWN
WHO OR HOW MANY WILL BE
IMPACTED.
CURRENTLY, THE COUNTIES OF
ADAMS, ASHLAND, BAYFIELD,
FOREST, IRON AND MENOMINEE, AS
WELL AS SOME TRIBAL LANDS, ARE
EXEMPTED FROM FOOD ASSISTANCE
WORK REQUIREMENTS.
THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SERVICES SAYS IT WILL
ATTEMPT TO REAPPLY FOR WORK
REQUIREMENT EXEMPTIONS IN THESE
AREAS BUT IT'S UNCLEAR WHERE IT
COULD BE LIFTED.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE SAYS THE RULE
CHANGES WILL PROMOTE WORK DURING
A TIME WHEN UNEMPLOYMENT IS LOW
AND THE ECONOMY IS STRONG.
IT WILL CODIFY THE ORIGINAL
INTENT OF THE PROGRAM AND COULD
SAVE THE GOVERNMENT $5 BILLION
OVER FIVE YEARS.
U.S. AGRICULTURE SECRETARY SONNY
PER
PERDO SAYS WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE BY GIVING THEM A HELPING
HAND, BUT NOT ALLOWING IT TO
BECOME AN INDEFINITELY GIVING
HAND.
FOR THESE AND OTHER FAST