Millions of Americans Will Face Cuts in Food Stamp Benefits
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On November 1, food stamp recipients across the country will be facing cuts in their monthly benefits.
The cuts in benefits are a result of the expiration of a temporary boost in assistance as part of the 2009 stimulus plan that supported the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
That is when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits are set to fall for more than 47 million lower-income people — 1 in 7 Americans — most of whom live in households with children, seniors or people with disabilities. Barring congressional intervention, the maximum payment for a family of four will shrink from $668 a month to $632, or $432 over the course of a year.
Families already struggling to stretch their monthly benefits through the end of each month will be turning to food pantries and soup kitchens, some of which are already trying to keep up with the demand for services.
The food stamp cuts should serve as a harsh warning about the risks of government dependency. With the nation’s $17 trillion debt, government support of an extended entitlement state is not sustainable in the long run.
As many families will soon realize, being self-reliant is the only path toward economic security.