|
Heritage
Foundation
Guess
What Group is Getting Food Stamps at an Alarming Rate
Rachel
Sheffield
January
16, 2014
Food
stamp rolls have been growing rapidly. But what many may not realize
is that participation among able-bodied adults without dependents
(ABAWDs) has been skyrocketing compared to the total number of
participants. That’s just one reason Congress should reform the
food stamp program in the farm bill now under consideration. In just
four years, the number of able-bodied adults without dependents
(ABAWDs) on the food stamp rolls skyrocketed by over 2 million. While
overall food stamp use grew by 53 percent between Fiscal Year 2007
and Fiscal Year 2010 (from about 26 million to nearly 40 million), it
more than doubled among able-bodied adults without dependents during
this time–from 1.7 million to 3.9 million–an increase of roughly
127 percent. Food stamp spending today is roughly $80 billion,
double what it was in Fiscal Year 2008.
Going
forward, food stamp policy should ensure that resources are going to
those most in need — particularly at a time when budgets are tight
for so many Americans Able-bodied recipients should be encouraged to
work. This way, help is available to those who truly need it, while
at the same time individuals are encouraged to do what they can to
help themselves.
Congress
has the opportunity now to reform food stamps as policymakers debate
the farm bill. The House’s current proposal makes some steps
towards encouraging work, but it is yet to be seen whether the House
will maintain the work component of their proposal, or if they will
fold on this important matter.
While
the recession no doubt plays into the increases in food stamp
participation, policy loopholes have opened the doors to boost growth
as well In his 2009 stimulus bill, Obama allowed states to waive the
modest ABAWD work provision (which says that after 3 months ABAWDs
must work or perform some type of work activity for 20 hours per week
to remain on food stamps).
With
the work waivers in place, ABAWDs can stay on food stamps for an
unlimited amount of time without working or preparing for work.
Without a work requirement it is difficult to ensure food stamps are
not going to those who could otherwise work. A work requirement acts
as a gatekeeper: those who really need assistance can still get it,
while those who may not really need it will be deterred, thus
targeting resources to the truly needy. It also encourages
individuals to move towards work, and it can provide job training and
other employment help.
Self-sufficiency
for able-bodied adults should be the goal of any sound welfare
policy. Unfortunately, most of the government’s 80-plus welfare
programs–including food stamps–aren’t focused in this
direction.
Helping
those in need means helping them rise above government dependence.
Unfortunately, self-sufficiency seems to be kicked to the bottom of
the list all too often when it comes to reforming the nation’s
broken welfare system. It’s time for Congress to realize that
helping individuals means a hand-up, not merely a handout.
Read
this and other articles at Heritage Foundation
|
