Should SNAP recipients be subjected to a work requirement, if recipients are abl

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   RJ Schwartzposted 8 years ago

   Should SNAP recipients be subjected to a work requirement, if recipients are able-bodied?
   
   The President has proposed a work requirement for Food Stamps and requiring proof that anyone collecting the Earned Income Credit is eligible to work in the United States.  Many states, including ones that are very Liberal have already enacted similar requirements over the years with positive effects.  The target group is able bodied persons without dependents - the President is not going after single moms or people with children or other dependents.
   
   

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   Old Poolmanposted 8 years ago

   This is one of those questions that is not easily answered.  The situations for those on Snap vary widely.
   
   For instance, a single mom with two children can't afford to pay childcare, transportation, and the other related expenses to accept a minimum wage job.  They are pretty much trapped unless they have been able to receive some skills training that raises them above minimum wage jobs.
   
   Then we have those whom sit on their butts and watch TV all day, many because they can't pass a drug test to get a job.  They should be required to work at some job.
   
   The biggest problem is the way our welfare system is now structured.  It is either all or nothing.  If there were a phase-out method where those who need assistance could take a trainee type job without losing all of their benefits it would help.  Some who know how to work the system can make more on welfare than they ever could being unskilled labor.

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   shanmarieposted 8 years ago

   There is already a similar program in place in TX. There are probably exceptions, but people who receive SNAP here must also be registered with the Work Force and actively look for work. If contacted about a job match, a person must apply for it. I believe there are also occasional classes or some other kinds of meetings until said participant has a job. Of course,  this only applies to applicants who are not already working.
   
   But to answer the question, I don't think OT is a bad idea. Like anything else in a program like this, though, there should be allowances for special situations and the elderly or disabled should be taken into account since they are limited by what they can do.

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   MizBejabbersposted 8 years ago

   If the person is able-bodied, of working age, won't have to pay all his/her wages in child care, and if jobs are available, yes. But there are certain areas where there are not enough jobs to go around, and city dwellers can't raise their own perpetual food source. These people should not have to die of hunger through no fault of their own while we pay all kinds of subsidies to illegal aliens because of "refugee" status. Should these able-bodied people be subjected to drug tests in this case, most definitely. The good ones shouldn't mind a little inconvenience to weed out the druggies who want to live off taxpayers.

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      shanmarieposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      You make a good point. Drug use may be more of a problem. Most people would rather support themselves than have to completely rely on food stamps or other government benefits.

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