tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851578678715572028.post3507864368868709..comments2023-08-10T11:52:29.460-04:00Comments on Beyond Bread: Expanding food stampsGreg Bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08563081048614579716noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851578678715572028.post-87668522148907199472009-05-08T13:03:00.000-04:002009-05-08T13:03:00.000-04:00Hi Joanna -
We were just reporting here upon pro...Hi Joanna - <br /><br />We were just reporting here upon proposed legislation in DC, which hasn't passed or gone into effect yet. I'm not sure what's happening in New York, but there seems to be <A HREF="http://www.otda.state.ny.us/main/foodstamps/#benefits" REL="nofollow">contact information listed here</A>. Good luck!Greg Bloomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08563081048614579716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851578678715572028.post-39450688623724039382009-05-08T10:53:00.000-04:002009-05-08T10:53:00.000-04:00Matt, Does the raising to 200% just include DC or ...Matt, Does the raising to 200% just include DC or is this a national change. I live in NY and was under the impression that the change to 200% poverty level was in effect 4/1/09 but was informed otherwise at the food stamp office. Also, I am finding it diificult to find any this information online.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09406957417219290205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851578678715572028.post-10945092728581112612009-04-01T09:20:00.000-04:002009-04-01T09:20:00.000-04:00Hi Imee,Thanks for taking the time to write in. I ...Hi Imee,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for taking the time to write in. I want to emphasize that SNAP (or, what we know as food stamps) is a voluntary program. No individual or family will be forced into the program.<BR/><BR/>I want to give the more detailed answer to your point, though, because there have been some changes to the food stamp program that often go unexplained. In order to qualify for food stamps you must (on top of being below the income threshold) be either 1) a senior citizen, 2) a person with a documented mental or physical disability, 3) a caretaker with dependents. <BR/><BR/>I would also add that the federal poverty line has not been recalculated since the early 1980's, so raising the bar to 200% of the poverty line is an attempt to counteract more than two decades of inflation. <BR/><BR/>I'm happy to write more about this if you're interested.<BR/><BR/>And thanks again!<BR/><BR/>MattMatt Siemerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03692867983123213449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851578678715572028.post-73026529764294605852009-04-01T04:38:00.000-04:002009-04-01T04:38:00.000-04:00The increasing of eligibility for Food Stamps can ...The increasing of eligibility for Food Stamps can be both good and bad. Raising the bar to 200% could accommodate those who can't afford food but has a family size too big. however it could also make families who can afford food to go on welfare, which is very unjust.<BR/><BR/>-<A HREF="http://www.cashgrants.org/state/texas-food-stamp-program/" REL="nofollow">Imee</A>Imee Rockshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997556657001947542noreply@blogger.com