House Republicans, who have accused states of cheating by averting cuts in food stamps, have raised a new argument — that state governments discriminate against some poor people by holding on to food stamps for other poor people. And they want to know if the administration will allow the practice to continue.
The 2014 farm law aimed for $8 bln in food stamp savings by requiring states to provide at least $20 a year to poor people for utility costs to trigger additional food stamps, a connection called heat-and-eat. In the past, even $1 in utility aid was sufficient to qualify people for more food stamps. The major heat-and-eat states have decided to pay the additional utility aid because the food stamp benefits are much larger.
In a letter to HHS Secretary Sebelius, the chairmen of the House Agriculture and the Energy and Commerce committees say the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is overwhelmed with applicants, so only one-fifth of them get help. “(T)he way in which some states are misusing LIHEAP payments may prevent families who are eligible for LIHEAP from receiving this assistance,” wrote Agriculture chairman Frank Lucas and Energy and Commerce chairman Fred Upton. They asked Sebelius “what guidelines are you giving states for these payments.”
Lucas said early this month that Republicans will pursue the issue. “This public spat has raised the profile of this,” he said. On Thursday, Upton said, “We need to make certain that LIHEAP funds aren’t being abused or diverted to other purposes.” Heat-and-eat was the major food-stamp cut secured by Republicans it the farm bill. The House proposed cuts of $39 bln.