NJ Bill Would Restore Food Stamps Waiver

New Jersey’s Democrat-led Legislature passed a bill Thursday to restore a work-requirement waiver for federal food stamps that the Christie administration stopped because the state’s unemployment rate had fallen.

The Assembly approved the measure Thursday to require the administration to conduct a study on whether a need for the waiver exists. If it does, then the state must apply for it. The bill now goes to Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

Christie’s administration announced in December it would stop seeking a waiver for “able-bodied” adults without dependents for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, once called food stamps.

Since 2009, New Jersey was able to waive a requirement that food-stamp recipients work at least 20 hours a week because of the struggling economy. But the administration said the state cannot continue because the economy has improved. The federal government set a 10 percent unemployment rate for states to participate in the waiver. New Jersey’s unemployment rate is 5.1 percent.

The move angered Democrats and anti-poverty groups in the state, who argued that certain areas could likely still have qualified for the waiver.

“Unfortunately, we still have a significant number of counties still struggling to rebound from the recession, making it harder for residents to find work,” said Democratic Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter.

Christie’s office points out that residents are not losing benefits, only that able-bodied adults without dependents must now meet the work requirement.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the February 19th, 2016 edition of Hamodia.