The Federal Register is to publish a proposed rule today that would bar the use of federal funds to encourage people to apply for food stamps.
Required by the 2014 farm law, the regulation also would prohibit any entity that receives money through the 2008 Food and Nutrition Act from paying “any person engaged in outreach or recruitment activities based on the number of individuals who apply to receive … benefits,” or to cover administrative costs of recruitment programs or TV, radio or billboard advertisements that promote food stamps.
There will be a 60-day comment period, ending May 13. In the Federal Register notice, the USDA says Section 4018 of the 2014 law “prohibits use of funds … for recruitment activities that are designed to persuade an individual to apply for SNAP benefits. Persuasive practices constitute coercing or pressuring an individual to apply or providing incentives to fill out an application …. The department understands that it was not the intent of Congress to prohibit informational activities that provide basic program information to potentially eligible individuals. Basic program information allows individuals to make a well-informed decision about whether or not to apply based on accurate information, rather than myths or other types of misinformation.”
Conservative Republicans tried during debate on the 2014 farm law to cut food-stamp costs by $40 billion over 10 years by tightening eligibility rules. In the end, the law called for $8.6 billion in cuts to a provision that helps people with high heating costs.
Enrollment in food stamps soared as a result of the 2008-09 recession and Republican lawmakers said out-of-control spending would be a burden on taxpayers. Costs peaked at $80 billion, with 47.6 million recipients, during fiscal 2013, when the farm bill was under debate in Congress. Costs were $74 billion last year, when participation averaged 45.7 million people.