A new rule finalized by the Trump administration will tighten work requirements for food stamp recipients and potentially slash benefits for more than 100,000 people in Illinois.
The nationwide move, announced Wednesday, targets abled-bodied adults receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that are under 50 years old who don’t have any children or dependents.
“Our administration has adamantly opposed the federal rule change to SNAP policy that would require work requirements from approximately 140,000 low-income individuals in Illinois and hundreds of thousands more across the country,” said Meghan Powers, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Human Services.
The 140,000 people impacted by the rule are nearly 8% of the 1.78 million Illinoisans that received SNAP benefits as of August 2019, according to the most recent numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Current rules state able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 49 can receive only three months of SNAP benefits in a three-year period if they don’t meet the 80 hours a month work requirement.
However, states dealing with high unemployment rates or insufficient jobs usually could waive those time requirements.
But the new rule will impose a stricter criteria for states to meet in order to issue a waiver.
Now states won’t be allowed to issue waivers unless a city or county’s unemployment rate is 6% or higher and the governor’s support for the request will be required. The Illinois unemployment rate is 3.9%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
It is expected to save the government $5.5 billion over five years, but 688,000 SNAP recipients will also lose their benefits nationwide, said Brandon Lipps, deputy undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Nutrition and Consumer Services.
“Many SNAP participants face serious barriers to employment, such as mental illnesses, substance use disorders, justice involvement and significant physical limitations, and would not be able to immediately meet the work requirements.” Powers said.
Greg Trotter, a spokesman for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, said the new restrictions will have devastating impact for people depending on these benefits.
“SNAP is on the frontline against hunger in this country, and it helps lift people out of poverty,” Trotter said. “We are really worried people are going to slip through the cracks when they lose their benefits.”
The food depository simply doesn’t have the resources to replace SNAP and “for every single meal the food depository provides in Cook County, SNAP provides eight meals,” Trotter said.
“There are many reasons why someone may be considered able-bodied and not be able to meet the necessary work requirements,” Trotter said. “They could be dealing with undiagnosed mental health issues, they may have no car or they could be formerly incarcerated and can’t find a job.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker called the Trump administration’s new rule “cruel.”
“President [Donald] Trump is now resorting to the ugliest possible tactics to distract the American people from his impeachment,” said Pritzker in a statement. “As we move forward, we will do everything in our power to protect our residents from the President’s actions and ensure Illinois remains a place where all can thrive.”
Contributing: Associated Press
Manny Ramos is a corps member in Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster Sun-Times coverage of issues affecting Chicago’s South and West sides.