New Mexico work for food stamps requirement is coming back. Starting in October, people in New Mexico, will be required to work for several hours per week in order to receive food stamps.The mandatory work order for the food stamp program, which was in place before the recession is being blasted by Democrats and organizations that help low incomes families.
Governor Susana Martinez, has announced that she is reimposing the order that requires New Mexicans to work in order to benefit from food stamps, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.
Over 400,000 people receive the government aide in the state.
The mandatory order existed in New Mexico prior to the recession, but was annulled due to the fact many residents simply could not find jobs.
But now that the economy has been stabilized, the Republican politician who might run in the presidential election in 2016, want her voters back in the work field and volunteering to help others in need.
The Human Services Department said in a statement that work-related requirement for low-income and poor folks was waived temporarily, it was not planned for it to stay in place indefinitely and explained what the system will look like.
Teens who are between 16-17 must attend school or participate in a job training program to get their checks.
People with no children, who are between the ages of 18-59 will have to work 20 hours per week to get food stamps.
As for parents with kids over the age of 6, they must actively search for employment or perform community service to obtain food-purchasing assistance.
Pregnant women, caregivers of children under the age of 6, seniors and disabled people who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are exempted.
The 20-hour work requirement can be waived by obtaining employment, taking part in community service or participating in a job training program.
Organizations and Democrats are slamming Susana Martinez for the proposed job search changes, claiming that she is making it even harder for people living in poverty to put food on their tables.
Sounds like a great plan. There are always streets that need trash picked up and places needing voluteers. It will need to be coordinated correctly and have job training and volunteers opportunities available.
They also have Government Buildings that need cleaning and in book work.
If people are not disabled there should be no problem with them helping pay for their own food in this manner.
They should look at it as actually helping themselves, in keeping them busy and the work will be good for their resumes.
The only problems I really see with it is if these people with 6 year old’s have to find someone to watch their kid when school is not is session or if they get sick, Who’s going to pay for that. And a possibility of transportation maybe a problem for some as some areas may not have bus or cab services available to them. (Totally know this Problem first hand)
“Single recipients with no children, who are between the ages of 18-59 will have to work 20 hours per week to get food stamps.”
Source: Above article. Read b4 u post, kthnx. 🙂
I do see your point about transportation, though. Hopefully they can assist those that need a ride to ‘work’. Aside from that, I support this plan 100%.
work or starve
there are programs that the government provides to working single parents to help them with daycare, there should be no reason why these people cannot take advantage of that as well. there is also a free bus ticket service to low income people, are they above riding the bus like anyone else to get to where they need to be?
you sir are an pompas asshole
No work, No eat
I would support this, but ONLY if the work was supplied by the state government and ONLY if the work was guaranteed, meaning if you apply for the foodstamps you get a state sanctioned job immediately. Because if this bill means you have to get a job just anywhere it is a truly horrible and stupid idea. I’ve been out there, and its hard to get a job *anywhere* including McDonald’s. If this bill does include a guaranteed state sanctioned job (cleaning highways, construction, volunteer work, and anything else the state needs) then I think this is a brilliant idea and should be implemented nationwide. It would be both an instant cure for our terrible unemployment and would quickly help repair our aging, collapsing infrastructure.
I think it is about time that people who need help should step up to the plate and should work for such assistance. A free pass for any and all things is what is wrong with this country. The more dependent we allow citizens to become then the easier it is for government to regulate their lives.
Perfect ! , All states should enact such requirements .
Most all homeless & out of work people in Kingman, beg on street corners
and hold signs saying help need food …….
What they do is trade food stamps at discount for cash, See most of same people in the parks laying around on the grass drinking wine and smoking pot…..
You can’t trade food stamp. There are no stamps. The money is on a debit card with picture ID.
Hmmm.. picture ID. Kinda like what you should have in order to vote.
Anyway, if you want to turn SNAP money into cash, you need to buy food and then sell it.
Proof of your claims?
Nothing like rich snobs in life trying to stick it to the poor. They have it bad enough as it is. How do you rich snobs live with yourselves?
And no I am not on food stamps myself. As long as its not for the illegal immigrants, we should care about the poor.
I suppose to be a rich snob you have to have done something right in life and worked for it (certainly for self made individuals anyway). Adults need to take some responsibility over their own destiny rather than always relying on taxes paid by these rich snobs and not so rich snobs to keep them free of such responsibility. And there are actually jobs out there, plenty of them if that’s your goal, I think part of the problem is people feel they are too good to work certain jobs (i.e. care taking jobs, grocery store work, film extra work, even–and this is where I make most of my money and pay taxes on it, too– via stripping/ strip club work, lol), and then complain that they can’t find a job.
TC, regardless of your chronological age, you need to grow-up. When you do, you’ll see how too many people who are far from rich want to restore some sense of sanity to these programs. The fraud waste and abuse is really hurting those who need it most, and costing others way too much in taxes. If you have any integrity and are one to fight for the plight of the unfortunate, then speak and act in useful ways. Help those who want to identify and eliminate fraud, waste and abuse and quit attacking the integrity of the majority.
you go! I hate the fact that all of Americas poor on welfare and foodstamps have to be lazy slobs. that is beyond ignorant. I have worked since I was 16 and at times have needed the help. as of now im doing well, and am grateful for the help when I did need it but I didn’t like how every purchase I made would be scrutinized. a big load of crap to be treated in such a manner.
The job requirement in itself is ridiculous. So you are going to let them starve because they can’t find work? That is truly sad. Good luck making it to heaven with that attitude.
It clearly states you can volunteer that time as well.
“The 20-hour work requirement can be waived by obtaining employment, taking part in community service or participating in a job training program.”
Who says that any one gets to heaven? Have you not read…”No one ascends into heaven save and except He who came from there” or “where I go you cannot come” (Jesus) Stop believing in false preachers.
Wrong. He was speaking to the Pharisees when he made that statement, Chris. They were people whom believed their own actions would deem them worthy to enter Heaven. Only a couple verses later after the quote you cited Jesus told them they (unbelievers) would not enter because they did not believe He was whom He said He was; they believed in their own “righteousness.”
Stop believing other heathen based on verses they take out of context.
I think Christ said help the poor, he did not say help the lazy. by requiring them to work is not starving them. if you do not want to work that is your choice. So since you do not seem to think we should make the work, could send your address to the goverment office, so that we can send the ones that do not want to work to your house and you can pay for them being lazy, and not use my tax dollar. Oh! by the way, Christ also, stated for us to watch the ants and how they work. uhmmm! makes alot of sense to me.
AMEN!!!!
Work? Work? What a mean, racist idea.
The answer would be to get a job and get off food stamps. I live in the middle of noweher virginia and there are jobs. It’s just that many people don’t want them. Jobs require work. The ones who want to work will find jobs, those that don’t want to work wuld rather just get a check.
The president said he would provide “shovel ready ” jobs. The problem is to most people a shovel looks like work! People are unwilling to get a shovel. They want to watch the rest of the people shovel while the ones who don’t work get the benefits.
So, you want to say Obama wants the poor to get a shovel, so they start digging their own graves.
No Odummy does not want them to dig there own graves, he wants you to dig there graves. he does not want them to work only vote, and by the way, when is the last time you saw someone on food stamps that was thin? so, they would not be able to dig thier graves if they wanted to. And yes, giving the poor a shovel and putting them to work seemed to help in the depression era. hoover dam was built that way. but I am guessing you do not know anything about that would you.
It’s a metaphor… I read a quote that said “opportunity is often over looked because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work” you’re obviously one of those people.
This is a fair and balanced solution that allows recipients to obtain food stamps with dignity. Knowing that you are working for the assistance eliminates the face of getting charity or handouts. In essence, the recipients are working for their food like everyone else.
This solution should be adopted in the State of California; especially in Los Angeles County where estimated 24% of the population live in poverty.
If a person is able bodied, they wouldn’t be able to lay up on anybody else and get free stuff, they shouldn’t be able to lay up on the taxpayers either and get free stuff! the same should go for illegals looking for a free ride. no work, no food stamps or other entitlements!
I strongly support Gov. Martinez on this issue. There are too many able bodied (but lazy) free riders abusing the system and we the tax-payers have to foot the bill to support them. I am sure that there are many things in your state that need to be done, fixed, or improve.
“Six days shalt thou labor to earn thy bread” Too many things are taken for granted in this country. “Those who do not work should not eat”
Governor – you have work for these lazy free riders to do. If they don’t like it then no work = no pay = no food-stamp check.
A good job seeker will accept any legal job available that is offered by the state and work at it until something better comes along. Put tax payers money to better use than to support there free riders.
After Sept 11 disaster I was laid off my $21 an hour job and for two years no one would hire me because I looked like a middle eastern man.(Which, of course, I am not) I worked for free for six months at a gas station just to get a decent place to live and good healthy meals to go with it. Yes, six months then I was hired for the night shift. When something better came along, I accepted but I continued to work the night shift for another four years while doing my day job.
Now my present employer does not want me to leave. He goes out of his way to make my life better. My former employer at the gas station also does the same for me.
How much unemployment benefit did I receive during my unemployment period – ZILCH. How much in food stamps did I receive – ZILCH
So get off your lazy butts people and help the Governor get some work done to improve your state.
You are fortunate that you are here and not in some other country where there is no such program for you to abuse.
Governor, I strongly recommend this plan for the entire USA.
There is much more for me to say on this program but for now this should suffice.
Excellent! I wish Illinois and all other states would implement this same program. Sure….there maybe some challenges but plenty of agencies need volunteer help. Good luck, New Mexico. You’re setting a good example for the rest of the country.
I had the opportunity to visit Trinidad about 2 months ago. first time I had ever been out of the states and I am 57 years of age. we need to take all poor people (both those that cannot work and those that are lazy and do not want to work), give them a tour of the poor there. they literally live in tin shanties. I saw a tin building (shack) about 5 x 5 ft. and 5 people sitting in front. thier home. the ones here scream and holler they have it so bad. has anyone ever checked into a section 8 home? no home that is under 150K or not green energy is not acceptable. I live in a home that is 25 years old, nice neighbor hood and good people, middle class all the way. and Odummy and the rest of the nuts running this country, say that my home is not good enough for a lazy person. I am all for helping people that are disabled, sick, etc…., but we give far to much to lazy, drug addicts, and those that think working at Mcdonalds is beneath them. I have dug ditches when I did not have a job. so, making people work for thier food stamps is a great idea. we also need to drug test them at random. I am at my job and they take my money to support them. we also, need to make a law that states if you are on any govement assistance, and you have more than 2 children, then you do not get anymore help from us. your choice would be loose your child or get fixed. mean? no, sensable. intitlement must be pulled back under control or we will destroy this country. look at Japan, they do not have a welfare system. you family is required to take care of you, and I am guessing, unless you are old over there, you work doing something. GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Great Idea!!! More states should do this. It will give them sense of pride to work for what they get and then maybe they would appreciate what they get. A handout degrades them over time. Job Training for Teens awesome!!!!!! There is always work that needs to be done and work makes light with many hands. Parks and ditches need trash to be picked up is only one example. Let’s get Americans back working again. Gov. Martinez hang in there.
It looks like she is really running for president.
Work without purpose begets misery for no good reason. Being in poverty keeps an individual from truly being engaged in their community, as they are deprived of the supplies and, in extreme cases, even the basic knowledge of personal hygiene. Accessing resources via the internet, phone or print media is also unavaliable without significant assistance from charity, thus preventing one from learning and understanding how to improve themselves. By authorizing this policy, thousands of confused families will lose the food they’re entitled to simply because they cannot keep up with the demands of their conservative legislators. It’s all too easy to fall into the mental trap that one needs to justify their very existence, regardless of what society really needs. When food and healthcare are considered a premium, instead of a right, the standards of society have been set too low.
This is the first rational thing I’ve heard of government doing in years and years! It only makes sense that if you can work, you should work. No more free handouts!
I sure hope they are ready to help that single parent get quality child care while they do all this community services. I also, as a nurse know of many sick-yet not old enough for disability individuals who are unable to work due to fighting an illness, or two, who may not be able to do this, what do we do with them? throw them out to starve?
Also a jobs Bill, just like the one John Boehner promised us all!!! WOW now there is a great idea! I mean so many crumbling,and we could put so many back to work! Oh that’s right we the people are always thrown under the bus for their politics!
They need to bring it to Alabama and Georgia….
It is obvious that the Governor needs some physical labor as well looks as though she has ate one to many dunkin doughnut.
That is a great idea. Needs to be implemented in all the other states!
WHY IS THIS SUCH A BAD IDEA? HELL EVEN CLINTON WHEN TAKING CREDIT FOR THE REPUB PUSHED WELFARE REFORM OF WHICH THIS WAS PART OF IT THOUGHT THE IDEA FINE AS HE SIGNED IT INTO LAW–WHY IN THE HELL CAN THESE PROGRESSIVES EMBRACE IT AS THE GOOD IDEA IT WAS THEN? WORKING FOR SOMETHING HAS A MUCH BETTER EFFECT ON THE PEOPLE RATHER THAN JUST SITTING AROUND DREAMING UP MISCHIEF THAT GETS THEM INTO TROUBLE—
wonder what the % of people who end up in front of a judge are on assistance.
I support this change in food stamp eligibility 100%. As a single mother myself I can completely understand the struggles of supporting a family, but I do not sympathize with free loader. I work amoung a lot of the low income population of New Mexico and see how government assistance gets abused. A lot of these people don’t want to better themselves or contribute to society, which ruins it for everyone. It’s very frustrating when people,like myself,don’t qualify for assistance because we make a little over the income requirement. But yet 1,000’s and 1,000’s of single, childless men and women are recieving food stamps, refusing to get work and better their lives.
I saw a comment that said that the governemnt should provided work if it’s going to be a requirement… I absolutly disagree with that. Our society relys on government help too much, which is making future generations lazy. I work full-time and go to school full-time and niether were provided to me. I had to work for them myself.
Today people just want everything handed to them without having to work for it. What happended to hard work and ambition? All we are left with are spoiled free loaders and thats why America is not the greatest county in the world anymore.
sounds like a great law make it a federal law and if you break the law you should lose your voting rights.
IS IT WRONG TO GIVE PEOPLE A WORK ETHIC??
If you think this is a give away. Now the way to free money is to claim your unborn child’s father is deceased. I listened to two young women discussing how you just need to check the Obituaries and find an individual who has been interned and claim to the SS office they are the father. The state isn’t going to be able to get a DNA match and they get the survivor benefits.
Better yet, I have experienced school counselors advising parents that if they have their child tested by school for a possible disability and they qualify (which means they are basically two years behind their peers) they will qualify for SS Disability.
Congrats, all states need to do this. I just moved from California the give away state.I was working a minimum of 54 hours a week and still found it difficult to pay bills but I did it and have always done it, go to work folks.PS I’m 58 and just bought my own house.
If you want to end massive “freeloading off the system” start with the billions in corporate welfare, paid to rich freeloaders. These people get all the benefits of living here in safety and wealth, while hiding their money overseas tax free and sending jobs there too; have sent 50,000 factories overseas, leaving no good jobs for low or average skills and bombed out cities with massive unemployment/crime/despondency. Work for food stamps? What a pandering to feel goodism/Republicanism while steering away from the rich freeloaders with their un-American job destroying outsourcing and taxpayer funded billions/corporate welfare.