32,000 Alabamians may no longer qualify for food stamps (al.com)

By Leada Gore | lgore@al.com
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on April 04, 2016 at 6:54 AM, updated April 04, 2016 at 6:55 AM

Tens of thousands of Alabamians receiving food stamps will be cut off from the benefits in April as new work requirements go into effect.

Barry Spears of the Alabama Department of Human Resources said his department has sent out 32,672 notices to Alabamians that face losing benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps. Spears said the department won't know the total numbers taken off the SNAP rolls until next month and that some letters went to home with multiple recipients.

Recipients were notified of the possible loss of benefits in December and following months.

The change comes following the expiration of a federal waiver that allowed some states, including Alabama, to grant recession-related exemptions to work requirements for SNAP recipients. Starting Jan. 1, all able-bodied unemployed adults ages 18-49 who aren't disabled or raising minor children have to work at least part time in order to maintain their benefits. The change limits recipients to three months of benefits within a 3-year time unless they are working or participating in a training program for at least 20 hours a week.

For able-bodied adults receiving food stamps as of Jan. 1, the benefits expired April 1.
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more: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/04/32000_alabamians_may_no_longer.html




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