Mary Alice Reporting – Legislation has passed the US Senate and now is up for review in the House related to benefit work requirements.
HR 2811 is called the Limit, Save, and Grow Act of 2023 and covers topics of the federal debt limit, decrease spending, repeals several energy tax credits, and nullifies regulation for the cancellation of federal student loan debt.
Additionally, the bill would expand work requirements for the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other programs, explains Tuscarawas Job and Family Services Director David Haverfield.
“The idea being that if you’re going to receive public assistance benefit you should have a work requirement. Our goal is ultimately to get people to become self-sufficient. I believe what the legislature is looking at right now is kind of expanding that to other programs. It’s been in our food program for quite a while.”
He adds that locally, the majority of individuals receiving assistance are working.
“There probably not always working full-time jobs, they’re not working high paying jobs. We also have a number of disabled people who would be exempted from that.”
Should the bill pass and become law, Haverfield does not foresee a major increase for local individuals receiving benefits.
HR 2811 has passed the house and is now in the US Senate for consideration.
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