INDIANAPOLIS – About 18,300 Hoosiers are without food stamps this month after the state reinstituted a work or education requirement.
That is about 2.2 percent of the 803,000 Hoosiers who receive aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, aka SNAP. At an average of $125 a month, the state is saving millions.
In May, about 48,000 Hoosiers were notified by the state they must now work or be in an educational program 20 hours a week to continue receiving benefits. There also is a volunteer option with certain certified groups around the state.
“Ultimately, the individual is going to have to get a job,” said David Smalley, head of Indiana’s SNAP program.
The requirement returned to the state because of Indiana’s unemployment numbers steadily falling. That eliminated a waiver that was given to most states during the recession.
It affects only able-bodied adults without children between the ages of 18 and 49.
The requirement went into effect in July, and after three non-compliant months a person is kicked off. Those 18,333 Hoosiers received notice in mid-October that their November benefits would be taken away.