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An appendix provides a summary of the House floor debate of July 18, 1996, when the
final version of this provision largely took shape. This debate shows that Congress intended that
the provision be administered in such a way as to push recipients toward work but did not
contemplate terminating benefits to eligible people who are willing to work but unable to find
jobs.
II.
Summary of the New Time Limit Provision
Although the new food stamp time limit is complex in several respects, its basic operation
can be summarized simply. An individual is ineligible for food stamps if he or she has received at
least three countable months of food stamps - whether or not consecutively - during a 36-month
period. Months do not count when an individual is exempt,4 is covered by a waiver,5 is working
half-time, or engaged in employment or training activities in a manner that satisfies new rules set
out in the statute.⁶ The time limit provision incorporates by reference all of the existing exemp-
tions from food stamp work registration requirements and adds several additional exemptions.⁷
States may apply for waivers for areas where the unemployment rate exceeds 10 percent or where
there are insufficient jobs for the persons subject to the time limits.⁸
Once an individual has reached the time limit, he or she may again receive food stamps by
becoming exempt, by becoming subject to a waiver, by working 80 hours in a 30-day period, or
through a month's work or participation in employment or training activities meeting the
conditions set out in the new provision.⁹ There is no limit on the number of times an individual
may requalify through any of these methods.
An individual who has regained eligibility through work or employment or training activi-
ties may continue to receive food stamps for up to three consecutive months after again becoming
unemployed even if he or she earlier used up his or her basic three months of benefits while out of
work. 10 However, after an individual has used up his or her initial three months of eligibility, he
47 U.S.C. §§ 2015(o)(2)(D) and (3), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, § 824(a).
57 U.S.C. §§ 2015(o)(2)(D) and (4)(A), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, § 824(a).
67 U.S.C. §§ 2015(o)(2) and (5)(A) and (B), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, § 824(a). Section VI below discusses
what kinds of employment and training activities do and do not suffice to prevent a month from counting toward
the time limits.
77 U.S.C. §§ 2015(o)(3), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, § 824(a); 7 U.S.C. § 2015(d)(2); 7 C.F.R. § 273.7(b)(1).
87 U.S.C. §§ 2015(o)(4)(A), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, § 824(a). USDA must report to the House and Senate
Agriculture Committees on any waivers granted. 7 U.S.C. §§ 2015(o)(4)(B), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, §
824(a).
97 U.S.C. § 2015(o)(5)(A), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, § 824(a).
107 U.S.C. § 2015(o)(5)(C)(i), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, § 824(a). It is not necessary for an individual to have
been receiving food stamps while he or she was working: the law says that an individual must have regained his or
her eligibility under the time limit provision but does not require that he or she actually receive food stamps.
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"ocrText": "3\nAn appendix provides a summary of the House floor debate of July 18, 1996, when the\nfinal version of this provision largely took shape. This debate shows that Congress intended that\nthe provision be administered in such a way as to push recipients toward work but did not\ncontemplate terminating benefits to eligible people who are willing to work but unable to find\njobs.\nII.\nSummary of the New Time Limit Provision\nAlthough the new food stamp time limit is complex in several respects, its basic operation\ncan be summarized simply. An individual is ineligible for food stamps if he or she has received at\nleast three countable months of food stamps - whether or not consecutively - during a 36-month\nperiod. Months do not count when an individual is exempt,4 is covered by a waiver,5 is working\nhalf-time, or engaged in employment or training activities in a manner that satisfies new rules set\nout in the statute.⁶ The time limit provision incorporates by reference all of the existing exemp-\ntions from food stamp work registration requirements and adds several additional exemptions.⁷\nStates may apply for waivers for areas where the unemployment rate exceeds 10 percent or where\nthere are insufficient jobs for the persons subject to the time limits.⁸\nOnce an individual has reached the time limit, he or she may again receive food stamps by\nbecoming exempt, by becoming subject to a waiver, by working 80 hours in a 30-day period, or\nthrough a month's work or participation in employment or training activities meeting the\nconditions set out in the new provision.⁹ There is no limit on the number of times an individual\nmay requalify through any of these methods.\nAn individual who has regained eligibility through work or employment or training activi-\nties may continue to receive food stamps for up to three consecutive months after again becoming\nunemployed even if he or she earlier used up his or her basic three months of benefits while out of\nwork. 10 However, after an individual has used up his or her initial three months of eligibility, he\n47 U.S.C. §§ 2015(o)(2)(D) and (3), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, § 824(a).\n57 U.S.C. §§ 2015(o)(2)(D) and (4)(A), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, § 824(a).\n67 U.S.C. §§ 2015(o)(2) and (5)(A) and (B), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, § 824(a). Section VI below discusses\nwhat kinds of employment and training activities do and do not suffice to prevent a month from counting toward\nthe time limits.\n77 U.S.C. §§ 2015(o)(3), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, § 824(a); 7 U.S.C. § 2015(d)(2); 7 C.F.R. § 273.7(b)(1).\n87 U.S.C. §§ 2015(o)(4)(A), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, § 824(a). USDA must report to the House and Senate\nAgriculture Committees on any waivers granted. 7 U.S.C. §§ 2015(o)(4)(B), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, §\n824(a).\n97 U.S.C. § 2015(o)(5)(A), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, § 824(a).\n107 U.S.C. § 2015(o)(5)(C)(i), as added by Pub. L. 104-193, § 824(a). It is not necessary for an individual to have\nbeen receiving food stamps while he or she was working: the law says that an individual must have regained his or\nher eligibility under the time limit provision but does not require that he or she actually receive food stamps."
}