Food stamp rolls plummet in states that restore work requirements

Fox News ^ | July 4, 2017 | Jennifer G. Hickey

[Zakeet]

After the food stamp rolls swelled for years under the Obama administration, fresh figures show a dramatic reduction in states that recently have moved to restore work requirements.

[Snip]

Alabama began 2017 by requiring able-bodied adults without children in 13 counties to either find a job or participate in work training as a condition for continuing to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

According to AL.com, the number of those recipients declined from 5,538 to 831 between Jan. 1 and the beginning of May – an 85 percent drop.

Similar changes were implemented in select counties in Georgia and by the end of the first three months, the number of adults receiving benefits in three participating counties dropped 58 percent, according to the Georgia Public Policy Foundation.

[Snip]

Kansas saw a 75 percent decline after implementing work requirements in 2013. In addition, nearly 60 percent of former beneficiaries found employment within 12 months and their incomes rose by an average of 127 percent per year, according to the Foundation for Government Accountability.

[Zakeet]

Work requirements slash welfare rolls ... and Democrats complain bitterly ...

[riverrunner]

People on the dole are reliable voter’s for those who keep them there.

[ViLaLuz]

Illegal aliens and legal residents shouldn’t recurve them, either.

[Chode]

do I really have to say it???

[Pontiac]

In addition, nearly 60 percent of former beneficiaries found employment within 12 months and their incomes rose by an average of 127 percent per year,

Well if I have to work I may as well make some money.

Darn it!

[Gen.Blather]

Being a landlord to society’s lower levels I can explain why. Their are two basic reasons why they don’t want or can’t keep a regular job. Either they are unemployable for a number of reasons; alcoholism, drug use, no driver’s license, general lack of intelligence, and zero motivation...Or, they already have a job that meets their needs. Often, they are making $10 or more dollars per hour, which is all take home, or they are, for one reason or another, unable to work for others. In this class are people who, though amply capable, are psychologically incapable of taking orders or, they simply don’t want to work other people’s hours. They make enough to get by and they have Medicaid for their medical needs. (I had one renter I never saw without a beer in one hand and a cigarette dangling from her lips. She had been treated numerous times with chemo and operations for throat cancer, at taxpayer expense, yet never stopped drinking and smoking.)

In my experience these people have a large family or group of enablers, including generous churches, who support them when something happens.

[IamConservative]

[rlmorel]

I fully expect a “This is unexpected” comment from some liberal entity soon.

[RoosterRedux]

I'm in Georgia and I have noticed the dramatic decline of crab legs and oysters in the shell in the checkout line at my local grocery store.

[Sacajaweau]

That’s some drop....and proof of the scam.

[Dr. Sivana]

Reagan started this 50 years ago with California’s workfare program. It was a signature act. Amazing how it has been a success everywhere, but still is not widely implemented.

[randita]

Many recipients of social programs have jobs making money under the table. No wonder their income rose. They no doubt kept the under the table job and got a real one to boot.

[bgill]

Welfare should be limited to two 6 month periods in a lifetime for working aged able adults. Once used up, too bad.

[Pontiac]

Same thing with Disability.

Then of course many Disability recipients get food stamps as well.

[bgill]

My secretary shared the lobby window with the welfare secretary. One day, the welfare secretary, who had worked there for years, got tired of them taking home more money and benefits than she did working 40/wk and quit. When lazy ashed welfare clients are doing better than state workers, something is very wrong.

[econjack]

Listening to my car radio a very articulate lady called in and said that, while she could work, with food stamps, rent subsidies, and the like, she figured she needed about $37,500 after tax income to equal the benefits she had now. Her words: “With three kids in school, I am better off not working than working at any job I’m qualified to do.” My feeling: If you can fog a mirror and get public assistance of any kind, you show up for work every day, whether it’s cleaning windows and toilets in public buildings, sweeping streets...I don’;t care, but you do something to earn your benefits.

I hope that the era of the Free Lunch comes to an end soon.

[super7man]

“I am for doing good to the poor, but...I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. I observed...that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.”

― Benjamin Franklin

Nothing new under the sun.

[wyowolf]

If it is it sure doesnt seem like it, just last week some dude was in front of me loaded up with “goodies”... lots of steaks / ribs etc in there... glad he is able to eat well the poor dear...

[Road Warrior ‘04]

With the Food Stamps going the way they’re going, Medicaid can’t be far behind.

[JimRed]

In addition, nearly 60 percent of former beneficiaries found employment within 12 months and their incomes rose by an average of 127 percent per year, according to the Foundation for Government Accountability.

Or just as likely they went from the off-the-books underground economy to the W-2 ranks without any change in employment. That needs to be investigated and appropriate prosecutions started.