NLIHC urges advocates to participate in a tweetstorm led by Opportunity Starts at Home Steering Committee member Food Research and Action Council (FRAC) on August 14 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET to raise awareness and generate comments against a proposed rule to end broad-based categorical eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Use #HandsOffSNAP and #ProtectSNAP in your tweets.
Following are sample tweets:
- 3M+ people could lose SNAP benefits under the Trump proposed rule. Taking away SNAP benefits from children, seniors, & working families will only lead to more hungry people in the U.S. #ProtectSNAP https://bit.ly/30Rlva4
- Children & their families would be disproportionately harmed by the administration’s proposal to cut SNAP. Tell this administration #HandsOffSNAP! https://bit.ly/30Rlva4
- This administration is attacking SNAP—a critical assistance received by 3.1 million people. Tell Trump #HandsOffSNAP https://bit.ly/30Rlva4
- The majority of people who receive SNAP are children, the elderly, the disabled, or are working. #ProtectSNAP Don’t take away a critical anti-hunger & anti-poverty tool https://bit.ly/30Rlva4
- Food insecurity is a major threat to the wellbeing of 12.5 million children in America. In 2017, 1 in 6 children lived in a food-insecure household. Now, more than ever, we need investments in programs like SNAP to ensure our kids are fed. #HandsOffSNAP https://bit.ly/30Rlva4
Not on Twitter? Use this time to spread this important message on other social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Background
The Trump administration published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on July 23 that would end “broad-based categorical eligibility” for SNAP. If implemented, as many as 3 million low-income people would be kicked off the program, and 500,000 children would no longer qualify for free school meals.
Broad-based categorical eligibility automatically qualifies families receiving benefits through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program for SNAP benefits as well. Additionally, for low-income families with incomes modestly above SNAP benefit limits, broad-based categorical eligibility standards allow SNAP-administering agencies to consider expenses that make up a large share of income, such as rent, utilities, and childcare, when determining benefit eligibility and amounts. States are also able to opt-out of federal asset testing limits and adopt their own less restrictive asset tests for eligibility. Children in families receiving SNAP benefits automatically qualify for free school lunches, effectively streamlining the application process and ensuring children in low-income families can receive nutritious meals during the school day.