SNAP Benefit Rules Could Change Under New Bill

Lawmakers in Arizona are seeking to pass two bills that would change some requirements for SNAP recipients to keep claiming their food benefits.

House Bill 2502 would require able-bodied SNAP recipients between the ages of 18 and 60 to take part in an employment and training program. House Bill 2503 would prohibit the state Department of Economic Security from seeking or renewing work requirement waivers for those aged between 18 and 52 who are also able-bodied and don't have any dependents.

Also known as food stamps, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) pays out monthly amounts to low and no-income households across America and its territories. Recipients access the funds through an electronic benefit transfer card (EBT), which can be used at participating stores to buy food and drink.

Both bills passed the Arizona Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday. They are sponsored by Republican Leo Biasiucci, who was, according to a report by the Tucson Sentinel, not present to explain the bills during the vote.

Newsweek contacted Biasiucci for comment via email outside of normal working hours.

As to be expected, Republicans and Democrats have opposing opinions on the two bills. State senator Justine Wadsack, a Republican from Tucson, said the bills would help "clean up the fraud, waste and abuse" in the system.

"It's supposed to be there to springboard you, to take care of you during a point in time where you need it most," she said, according to the Tucson Sentinel. "I'm sorry, but for your family to be on it for years at a time is just not what SNAP is for. It's not what our federal tax dollars are for to sustain you for years at a time when you are an able-bodied worker."

Democrat Senator Eva Burch described the bills as being "anti-poor people."

Speaking about HB2502, she said: "I think that this bill is going to hurt communities. We have people from these communities here telling us 'hey this is going to hurt us in rural communities.' I cannot vote in favor of a bill where the people in these spaces who do the hard work are telling us this isn't the right bill."

A date for the Senate to vote on the bill hasn't yet been agreed.

Arizona isn't the only state where lawmakers are attempting to pass rules relating to work and training programs for SNAP recipients. A currently voluntary program in the state may be made mandatory under new proposals offered by Senator Ben Hansen.

Similar moves are being made in West Virginia. Under current rules, able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 52 are required to work to obtain SNAP funds, but a new bill could see the age increased to 59 for able-bodied people without dependents.