Policy Brief Final
Policy Brief Final
Policy Brief Final
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Executive summary
Although Scott’s new bill (Let’s Get to Work Act of 2022) emphasizes the value of work
and responsibility for the prosperity of the nation, the bill should be rejected because it does not
factor in the high unemployment rate and untrained people in Florida. By expanding work
requirements to parents of children older than six years old and able-bodied adults in the age
range of 50 to 59, it fails to consider ABAWD's unique demographics including education and
race, affect their unemployment rates, which have an impact on their capacity to find
employment. This bill will make it more difficult for the SNAP program in Florida to meet
sufficiently support people of color whose rates of unemployment can be up to twice as high as
those of other Floridians. Countrywide, the new bill is likely to affect about 800,000 people.
SNAP is an important stimulant during recessions. In light of the impending recession, I applaud
the administration's efforts to increase access and urge the legislature to consider doing so even
further. This would not only help local businesses and households that are struggling due to the
current health crisis, but it would also do so at a low cost to the state.
Background information
While SNAP's restrictions are meant to ensure that no one in our nation needs to worry
about being hungry, opponents of this program want it to also emphasize the value of work and
responsibility. Work requirements are part of SNAP. If a person can work and are between the
ages of 16 and 59, they will likely need to fulfill the standard job requirements to get SNAP
benefits (Dhs.ri.gov.2022). The requirements are tough for most people in Florida including
signing up for a job, taking part in employment and training or workfare organized by SNAP,
agreeing to do the job if offered, and not abandoning the job willingly or working 30 hours
SNAP eligibility would be made by Scott's proposed legislation. First, it will put an end to the
current suspension of ABAWDs' SNAP work requirements. Secondly, it will expand SNAP
employment requirements to parents of children older than six years old and able-bodied adults
in the age range of 50 to 59. (except for people with children below 6 years and or those who
All SNAP applicants and recipients should be required to present an individual plan for
finding work and becoming self-sufficient when applying for or renewing assistance. This bill
asks the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to have more stringent job requirements
(SNAP). If these conditions are not met, SNAP eligibility is suspended for one month in the first
occurrence, three months in the second, and six months in the third.
States have previously had the freedom to direct waiver petitions toward regions with a
lack of employment. The new rule limits the ability of a state in waiving time limitations in
regions that have no sufficient jobs and modifies the requirements under which exemptions
would be granted. As an illustration, the new rule will mandate that states utilize past data on
unemployment rather than current data, which ignores the immediate confined effect of unseen
disasters such as hurricanes as well as the wider economic downturns that do not materialize for
months. The new law also fails to take into account the fact that unique demographics of an
ABAWD like education and race, affect their unemployment rates, which have an impact on
If the bill passes, about 800,000 people countrywide will no longer get food assistance
established a bill in 2015 that forbids the DCF from requesting a waiver on time restrictions in
the absence of legislative consent led to around 500,000 Floridians losing access to SNAP in the
first year alone after introduction (Huddleston, 2022). As it turned out, many individuals who
lost their benefits did so despite living in parts of Florida where there are high unemployment
rates or facing severe obstacles to working, such as health problems or poor transportation.
In Florida, the effects of the new bill will undoubtedly be felt sooner rather than later.
DCF will have less freedom to seek exceptions during economic downturns until the legislature
permits it to seek additional limits on the program. Additionally, passing the bill will make it
more difficult for the SNAP program in Florida to meet the needs of unemployed people of
color, whose joblessness can be up to twice as high as those of other Floridians. This is because
the bill only takes into account employment rates in the whole country rather than the number of
unemployed ABAWD in Florida. It will hurt Floridians who are uneducated and untrained to
work in the job market of today. Even though many ABAWDs already possess the necessary
abilities to compete in the profession, 29 percent of them in Florida do not possess a high school
diploma or GED, which makes it more difficult for them to get employment.
provide safety nets for individuals who are in need (Tampa, 2022). These initiatives are
necessary, but they think that the program should not set up a framework that inhibits
conditions, domestic violence, and substance misuse disorders, provide a challenge for many
SNAP households. These families might not always be able to fulfill the full employment and
engagement criteria as a result. To enable counties and states to accommodate the unique needs
of their caseloads, states and counties should be provided flexibility in the SNAP job
requirements.
Recommendations
The bill should be rejected for many reasons. In Florida, SNAP is the most successful
program to fight hunger and unemployment. SNAP promotes health and lowers poverty and also
makes a difference in that families have enough to eat; these outcomes are all threatened by the
proposed changes. furthermore, payments from SNAP have benefited Florida to a great extent
showing how the federal government extends a hand to this group of people. From the program,
Florida is likely to get more than $300 million in benefits to help communities all around the
state each month. Additionally, a multiplier effect means that every dollar spent on SNAP in
Florida generates $1.80 in total economic activity (Appendix 1). Catering for vulnerable families
is a long-term benefit to the government even though the new standards may produce short-term
savings for the federal government. I urge the legislators to reject the bill so that the government
can continue catering to the unskilled and unemployed people in Florida during this time of
https://www.wfla.com/news/politics/sen-rick-scott-proposes-changes-to-snap-welfare-eligibility/
Huddleston, C. (2022). USDA’s Three Rules to Slash SNAP: Distinguishing Between the Cuts
https://www.floridapolicy.org/posts/usdas-three-rules-to-slash-snap-distinguishing-
between-the-cuts-and-their-impact-on-florida.
SNAP Income and Benefit Changes Happening on Oct. 1, 2022 | RI Department of Human
releases/snap-income-and-benefit-changes-happening-oct-1-2022.
Tampa, F (2022). Sen. Rick Scott proposes changes to SNAP, welfare eligibility
Appendix 1: Project4d Benefits of SNAP