LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky House is also expected to hear a bill that will make it tougher for people to receive SNAP benefits.
House Bill 367 would enforce a rule that Kentucky adults would not qualify for benefits if they have financial assets that exceed certain thresholds.
The Kentucky House Committee on Families and Children advanced the proposal on Thursday.
Currently, a federal policy used by most states allows them to skip the asset test when determining eligibility.
“There’s no real reason to continue with these loopholes,” Rep. Wade Williams, R-District 4, said. “With the pandemic behind us, it’s time for us to think about solutions on how to get more workers off the sideline and back into the workforce.”
Opponents of the bill believe it will do more harm to Kentuckians already struggling.
“The goal is to save money by cutting down the burden on SNAP. Unfortunately, they don’t account for the downstream harms. When more people go hungry, more people need health care. The United States spends an estimated $16 trillion a year in nutrition-related chronic illnesses that can be solved by helping people eat,” Jordan Ojile of Feeding Kentucky said.
The bill now heads to the full House for a vote.
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