Tag: SNAP

Over 1,000 West Virginians Will Lose Food Stamps Benefits

Officials say more than 1,000 West Virginians will lose their food stamp benefits starting next month.The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports the state…

Officials say more than 1,000 West Virginians will lose their food stamp benefits starting next month.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports the state Department of Health and Human Resources announced last year that it would reinstate a requirement calling on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients to meet a monthly work or training requirement of 20 hours per week or lose benefits.

The changes took effect in January.

DHHR spokeswoman Allison Adler says an “outreach campaign” was started in October to contact the approximately 7,000 people at risk for losing their benefits.

Adler says on April 15, there were 1,566 cases closed, meaning those individuals will not receive SNAP benefits in May.

She says those individuals may contact their local DHHR before April 30 to have their case reviewed.

Advocates Fear Food Stamp Requirement Will Affect Food Banks

Advocates say West Virginia’s plan to make food stamp recipients meet a work or training requirement could increase the burden of food banks.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that the state Department of Health and Human Resources announced last year that it would reinstate a requirement calling on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients to meet a monthly work or training requirement of 20 hours per week or lose benefits. The changes took effect in January.

Chad Morrison, executive director of the Mountaineer Food Bank, says the changes will discourage people from applying for SNAP and the burden of supplying additional hunger relief would subsequently fall on food banks.

The Department of Health and Human Resources says there are fewer than 7,000 recipients who are most at risk of losing benefits.

W.Va. Report: $55M in Welfare Programs Spent out of State

A West Virginia report says $55 million in two welfare programs was spent out of state in a year.

The House released the Department of Health and Human Resources report Wednesday at Republican Del. Jill Upson’s request.

The report says that of $457.2 million in benefits, $52.5 million was spent out of state on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps, from November 2014 through October 2015.

Neighboring Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia comprised 90 percent.

About $1 million was spent in North Carolina and Florida each.

Of $29.5 million in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits over that timeframe, $2.2 million was spent out of state.

Under federal regulation, federally funded SNAP can be used at approved grocers outside the state.

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