Groups fighting hunger are paying attention as the U.S. House and Senate reconcile their different versions of the new farm bill.
Hunger Free Oklahoma estimates up to 97,000 Oklahomans could be subject to heightened work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program proposed in the House version.
The House farm bill proposes making the work requirements apply to adults up to 59 years old — 10 years longer than current work requirements — and to parents of children 6 or older, who are currently exempt.
The House bill also institutes penalties for those who don’t hit 20 hours a week in any given month: up to one year off SNAP the first time and up to three years each time thereafter.
"Which means you’re pulling benefits away from families that are struggling perhaps with seasonal employment, hourly employment where their hours aren’t reliable," said Hunger Free Oklahoma Executive Director Chris Bernard. "Anyone who loses a job will all of a sudden not be allowed to access SNAP for a year."
Bernard said the way SNAP benefits are calculated, entire families will be hurt by those penalties.
"If a parent is booted off SNAP for a year and gets a job the next month, their income will be counted against their children, and all of a sudden their whole family may not be eligible for SNAP. And if you want to talk about a disincentive to work, that could be it," Bernard said.
The House farm bill also torpedoes the ability for states to approve SNAP benefits when families already receive other federal assistance, which could delay that process past its deadline and lead states to incur federal fines.
"We really believe you’re going to see resources taken out of local economies, you’re going to see families suffer and you’re going to potentially see our state having to pay more because we’re not meeting the requirements," Bernard said.
The Senate version of the farm bill does not include the tougher SNAP work requirements. All of Oklahoma's representatives voted for the House version, and both senators voted against the Senate version.
