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Overview of the Food Stamp Time Limits for People Between 18 and 50 - 3/24/97
http://www.cbpp.org/fs1850ov.htm
still are poor would continue to be denied benefits until after they have worked a full month. In
certain limited circumstances, individuals who have exhausted their first three months of benefits,
gone back to work and then been laid off again could receive up to three additional months of
benefits. CBO estimates, however, that only about five percent of the individuals affected will
receive any of these additional three months of benefits. For those who do get these additional
benefits, food stamp benefits will be limited to a maximum of six months while out of work in any
36-month period.
The three-month "clock" established by the law began to run in most states at the end of
November. For all practical purposes, that means that most states will begin to terminate food
stamp recipients at the beginning of March unless they are working in a work or job training
program at least half-time or are participating in a food stamp workfare program. No hardship
exemptions are allowed.
Who is affected by this provision?
Most of those who will be affected are very poor. Many have no income other than food stamps
and qualify for no other benefits because they are not raising minor children; food stamps is the
only safety net they have. USDA data show that the average income of those affected by this
provision who are not currently employed is just 28 percent of the poverty line.
The data also show that more than 40 percent of this group are women. In addition, one-thira are
over the age of 40, an age above which individuals with limited skills often have difficulty finding
jobs quickly. Some are Vietnam veterans.
Many of those affected have a strong attachment to the workforce but can secure only short-term
jobs - and endure stretches of joblessness - because of their low levels of education and
skills. Only a small proportion of this group remains on food stamps continuously.
Won't those affected find jobs?
Recent research indicates that poor individuals with limited skills face substantial difficulties in
finding low-wage employment, especially in the cities. One study conducted by Katherine
Newman, now at Harvard University, examined all applicants for fast-food jobs in Harlem over a
five-month period. She found there were 14 applicants for every person hired. She also found
that 73 percent of the unsuccessful applicants were still out of work one year later despite the
fact that most had repeatedly applied for jobs. Another study, by Harry Holzer of Michigan State
University, found that workers who have limited education and are lacking in labor market skills
experience substantial periods of unemployment and have difficulties finding jobs even when the
economy is strong. Unemployed workers in some poor rural areas also confront limited
employment opportunities.
Can the food stamp cut-off be waived?
The new law does not allow states to grant hardship exemptions to the three-month food stamp
2 of 4
04/01/97 14:55:37
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"ocrText": "Overview of the Food Stamp Time Limits for People Between 18 and 50 - 3/24/97\nhttp://www.cbpp.org/fs1850ov.htm\nstill are poor would continue to be denied benefits until after they have worked a full month. In\ncertain limited circumstances, individuals who have exhausted their first three months of benefits,\ngone back to work and then been laid off again could receive up to three additional months of\nbenefits. CBO estimates, however, that only about five percent of the individuals affected will\nreceive any of these additional three months of benefits. For those who do get these additional\nbenefits, food stamp benefits will be limited to a maximum of six months while out of work in any\n36-month period.\nThe three-month \"clock\" established by the law began to run in most states at the end of\nNovember. For all practical purposes, that means that most states will begin to terminate food\nstamp recipients at the beginning of March unless they are working in a work or job training\nprogram at least half-time or are participating in a food stamp workfare program. No hardship\nexemptions are allowed.\nWho is affected by this provision?\nMost of those who will be affected are very poor. Many have no income other than food stamps\nand qualify for no other benefits because they are not raising minor children; food stamps is the\nonly safety net they have. USDA data show that the average income of those affected by this\nprovision who are not currently employed is just 28 percent of the poverty line.\nThe data also show that more than 40 percent of this group are women. In addition, one-thira are\nover the age of 40, an age above which individuals with limited skills often have difficulty finding\njobs quickly. Some are Vietnam veterans.\nMany of those affected have a strong attachment to the workforce but can secure only short-term\njobs - and endure stretches of joblessness - because of their low levels of education and\nskills. Only a small proportion of this group remains on food stamps continuously.\nWon't those affected find jobs?\nRecent research indicates that poor individuals with limited skills face substantial difficulties in\nfinding low-wage employment, especially in the cities. One study conducted by Katherine\nNewman, now at Harvard University, examined all applicants for fast-food jobs in Harlem over a\nfive-month period. She found there were 14 applicants for every person hired. She also found\nthat 73 percent of the unsuccessful applicants were still out of work one year later despite the\nfact that most had repeatedly applied for jobs. Another study, by Harry Holzer of Michigan State\nUniversity, found that workers who have limited education and are lacking in labor market skills\nexperience substantial periods of unemployment and have difficulties finding jobs even when the\neconomy is strong. Unemployed workers in some poor rural areas also confront limited\nemployment opportunities.\nCan the food stamp cut-off be waived?\nThe new law does not allow states to grant hardship exemptions to the three-month food stamp\n2 of 4\n04/01/97 14:55:37"
}