LETTER TO THE HOLLAND SENTINEL: Holland — I would like to respond to Elizabeth Diaz’s letter calling for tighter restrictions on Michigan’s assistance programs (Sentinel, Saturday). After reading materials from the Michigan League for Human Services and Bread for the World, I reached very different conclusions. Consider some of what I learned about food assistance (SNAP-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps).
Restrictions: Generally, to receive SNAP benefits, one must be working or looking for work. The income of qualifying families must be below the poverty level, which is $1,838 per month for a family of four. A family with one parent working 40 hours per week at minimum wage ($7.40) makes an average of $1,283 a month, well below this threshold. In October, Michigan imposed one of the nation’s strictest asset tests on SNAP eligibility, making many newly unemployed families ineligible for SNAP.
Restrictions: Generally, to receive SNAP benefits, one must be working or looking for work. The income of qualifying families must be below the poverty level, which is $1,838 per month for a family of four. A family with one parent working 40 hours per week at minimum wage ($7.40) makes an average of $1,283 a month, well below this threshold. In October, Michigan imposed one of the nation’s strictest asset tests on SNAP eligibility, making many newly unemployed families ineligible for SNAP.
Adequacy: Without proper nutrition, very small children may suffer lifelong impairment, and older children have difficulty in school. Yet SNAP benefits are rarely sufficient to meet all of a family’s food needs, with many families depleting their monthly allotment in 2 1/2 weeks. Parents sometimes skip meals or resort to eating less expensive food in order to provide adequate nutritious food to their children. This harms the health of the parent; in some cases the fasting periods disrupt the parent’s metabolism in a manner that (ironically) leads to obesity. When SNAP benefits run out, some families receive help from food banks. However, these sources usually supply only a few days worth of food at a time and are less able to accommodate the special needs of people with certain health problems such as diabetes or food allergies.
Effects: The funding for SNAP benefits comes from the federal government; states are responsible for administrative costs only. Each dollar of SNAP benefits generates $1.79 in economic activity. The new asset tests increase the administrative costs of Michigan’s SNAP program and reduce the total benefits received by Michigan.
Perhaps Elizabeth Diaz has never experienced the frustration, insecurity and humiliation of long-term unemployment. Currently, there are four job-seekers in our state for every job opening. Unfortunately, Diaz’s skepticism is common, causing users of public benefits to feel stigmatized. This is one reason that many citizens eligible for SNAP decline to participate in the program. Only a third of eligible seniors participate in SNAP. Is this really the way we should be treating our neighbors?
Mary Johnson
Holland
Effects: The funding for SNAP benefits comes from the federal government; states are responsible for administrative costs only. Each dollar of SNAP benefits generates $1.79 in economic activity. The new asset tests increase the administrative costs of Michigan’s SNAP program and reduce the total benefits received by Michigan.
Perhaps Elizabeth Diaz has never experienced the frustration, insecurity and humiliation of long-term unemployment. Currently, there are four job-seekers in our state for every job opening. Unfortunately, Diaz’s skepticism is common, causing users of public benefits to feel stigmatized. This is one reason that many citizens eligible for SNAP decline to participate in the program. Only a third of eligible seniors participate in SNAP. Is this really the way we should be treating our neighbors?
Mary Johnson
Holland
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