USDA Plan Could Cut SNAP Food Benefits for 6.3 Million People
The proposed rule would add income and savings checks for more families by 2029.
By MEGAN O’BRIENConsumer News · Nov 11, 1:15 AM
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has moved to tighten the rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in a way that could end food stamp benefits for about 6.3 million people, Yahoo News reported.
NTD News reported that the Department of Agriculture plan would reduce SNAP benefits for 6.3 million people by 2029, with more families facing checks of their income and savings, and some children needing to apply separately for school meals.
Under current rules, households that receive cash aid through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, known as TANF, qualify for SNAP automatically, without meeting federal income limits. The proposed rule would end that automatic eligibility and require those households to meet SNAP's own income rules, Yahoo News reported. The rule says the change would make eligibility more uniform and preserve benefits for the truly needy.
The gap between the two programs explains the change. TANF eligibility varies by state and generally runs from 130% to 200% of the federal poverty level, while SNAP's limit is generally 130%, according to Yahoo News. Some families above SNAP's line have been getting food stamps through the TANF door.
The USDA's own analysis projects that about 6.3 million people, roughly 18% of…