Fighting for Food Stamp Benefits

On Saturday, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum stood with elected officials and advocates to call on Governor Paterson to accept a statewide provision in the federal recovery bill that would extend Food Stamp benefits for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) through September 30, 2010. Read more about this provision.

New York City had previously been eligible for a waiver to extend the time limits, and despite the urging of the Public Advocate and other elected officials and hunger advocates, Mayor Bloomberg has never accepted the ABAWD waiver.

Today, Betsy blogs on the Huffington Post about the need for the Mayor to accept this provision without conditions.

What do you think? Post your thoughts on the Mayor's actions below.

Comments

[Thomas F. Coleman]

It is outrageous that Mayor Bloomberg has decided to treat single people as second class citizens. We pay our taxes -- which often go to support programs that do not directly benefit us but which are necessary for the well being of others.

When we are working at income producing jobs, we usually receive less compensation than workers with spouses or kids, when benefits compensation is taken into consideration. Then, just when we need a helping hand because of a job loss, the Mayor says we are not eligible for food stamps.

More than 64% of households in New York City are headed by unmarried adults. Some live alone. Others have a partner or roomate. Yet others are single parents raising children.

When we are down on our luck and need a little help to survive, why should some singles be blocked from food stamp assistance? We are all part of the fabric of American society. What about the ideal of liberty and justice FOR ALL?

[Imee]

From what I know, the New York SNAP/Food Stamp Program allows singles with no dependents to benefit from the program. It should have no discrimination whatsoever, therefore I think those who are single and have no children/dependents are just as eligible to receive these benefits.