Noncitizens who were receiving food stamps on Aug. 22, 1996, will not lose benefits due to their immigration status until at least April 22, 1997. If, for example, a person moves to another state or has a break in eligibility because of something unrelated to his or her noncitizen status (such as a temporary increase in earnings) and applies again before April 1, 1997, the new noncitizen eligibility requirements would not apply.
The Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act makes a significant change to implementation of the food stamp eligibility provisions for noncitizens of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
The report is based on a telephone survey of all states with SLEB agreements and case studies of 6 states with noteworthy levels of SLEB agreement-generated activity.
This letter describes the new statutory requirements for state agency implementation of the Food Stamp Program provisions of PL 104-193, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. We are also providing information regarding proposed and interim rules the FCS will publish and guidance relating to the Simplified Program option, FCS waiver authority, and quality control.
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 stipulates that able-bodied, childless adults may only receive food stamps for 3 months in a 36-month period unless they work at least 20 hours a week; participate in an approved work or training program; or live in an area that has been waived from the time limit due to either an unemployment rate higher than 10 percent, or insufficient jobs.
This policy memo supersedes the first question in Policy Memo 86-21. The change is being made to increase flexibility in reporting in this area.