There are about 47 million Americans who receive government food stamps who are sharing deep concerns about potential cutbacks in the food stamps program. Today, Feb. 13, 2013, John Morgan has reported for Money News, Potential Food Stamp Cutbacks on Horizon. If Congress does not act to keep funding in place, the nearly 47 million Americans who receive government food stamps may see their monthly allowance cut this year.
According to NBC News, back in 2009 during the height of the recession recipients got an $80 monthly raise, but the increase was temporary and is set to expire on October 31. Stacy Dean, vice president for food assistance policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, has said, “The recovery isn’t playing out the same way for folks at the lower income on the income scale. Families being able to afford less food is fundamentally the impact.” According to the Wisconsin Reporter, in Wisconsin, Governor Scott Walker earlier this month proposed that single, able-bodied adults who are on food stamps be required to undergo job training as a condition of receiving the benefits.
NBC News has also reported on this story, Food stamp users could see a benefits cut, if Congress doesn't act. The use of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, has increased substantially in recent years, as the country has struggled with a weak and erratic economic recovery. According to the Department of Agriculture, in 2012 about 46.6 million people used the program, which was up from about 26.3 million in 2007.
