Apr 06 Governors plead for food stamp flexibility amid pandemic By Astrid Galvan, Ashraf Khalil, Associated Press State governments and food security activists across the country are imploring the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make the food stamp program more flexible and easier to access at a time when so many people are losing their jobs and… Continue reading
Dec 04 Watch 7:47 How cuts to food stamp program could increase 'poor outcomes' for the food insecure The Trump administration is making some major changes to the food stamp program, known as SNAP. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture finalized a new rule expected to end access to the benefit for nearly 700,000 people by enforcing… Continue watching
Dec 04 USDA says hundreds of thousands of Americans will lose SNAP benefits under new rule By Associated Press The finalized rule, announced Wednesday, will restrict states from exempting work-eligible adults from having to obtain steady employment in order to receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps feed more than 36 million Americans. Continue reading
Oct 21 Watch 5:25 Flint fights lead poisoning with farmers markets and cooking classes By John Yang, Rachel Wellford After a public health crisis in Flint, Michigan, triggered by high levels of lead in the drinking water, a number of programs are working to encourage good nutrition for children in order to prevent recurring effects of the neurotoxin on… Continue watching
Oct 16 Trump rule may mean 1 million kids lose automatic free lunch By Candice Choi, Associated Press The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released details of an analysis that found that as many as 982,000 children could be affected by the change. About half would have to pay a reduced price of 40 cents for school lunch… Continue reading
Jul 27 Trump proposal seeks to crack down on food stamp 'loophole' By David A. Lieb, Associated Press The proposed rule change, outlined this past week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has highlighted the ideological clash between President Trump’s attempts to tighten government entitlement programs and efforts in some states to widen the social safety net. Continue reading
Jul 23 Watch 5:35 Why Trump's new limit on food stamp eligibility will affect working families most More than 40 states currently allow people who receive welfare benefits to become eligible automatically for food stamps, or SNAP. But the Trump administration has announced new rules to restrict that automatic eligibility, meaning 3 million may stop receiving food… Continue watching
Mar 28 Why this disaster relief bill is stuck on a debate over Puerto Rico food stamps By Gabriela Martinez Caught in the middle are more than 1 million Puerto Ricans who rely on a federal food subsidy program that’s slated to run out of money at the end of the month unless Congress intervenes. Continue reading
Jan 21 For the poor, the safety net in a shutdown doesn't feel safe By Juliet Linderman, Associated Press As the longest government shutdown in U.S. history stretches into a fifth week, millions of poor Americans who depend on food and rental assistance are becoming increasingly worried about the future. Continue reading
Jan 18 Many families and stores rely on SNAP benefits. The shutdown may pinch them both By Laura Santhanam Nationwide, 38 million Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the country’s largest safety net program, for food and nutrition, but future funding is uncertain amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. Continue reading