The food-stamp cuts proposed by the House Budget Committee, if implemented, could force states to cut enrollment by 10 mln people or to reduce benefits by $40 a month, says the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. The think tank says the proposed cuts total $137 bln over 10 years – “policymakers couldn’t achieve cuts of this magnitude without substantially scaling back eligibility or reducing benefits deeply, with serious effects on low-income families and individuals.”
Food stamp enrollment was 46.5 mln at latest count in January. December’s 46.8 mln people was the first time the monthly count was below 47 mln since July 2012. The average benefit per person was $124 in January. Forecasters say enrollment will decline as the economy improves.
Ryan proposed similarly deep cuts in three preceding budget plants, said the think tank. Congress rejected many of the proposed cuts when it enacted the 2014 farm law. But the Republican-controlled House endorsed them at least twice in 2013.