At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced a proposed rule intended to move more able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) off of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and towards self-sufficiency.
According to a USDA news release, “the rule is meant to restore the system to what it was meant to be: assistance through difficult times, not lifelong dependency”.
“Long-term reliance on government assistance has never been part of the American dream,” said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. “As we make benefits available to those who truly need them, we must also encourage participants to take proactive steps toward self-sufficiency. Moving people to work is common-sense policy, particularly at a time when the unemployment rate is at a generational low.”
The rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) focuses on work-related program requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents. The rule would apply to non-disabled people, between the ages of 18 and 49, with no dependents. The rule would not apply to the elderly, the disabled, or pregnant women.
