Work requirement for food stamp recipients 'unreasonably harsh,' must go, group tells Jindal [View all]

A New Orleans organization advocating for low-income residents urged Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration to end a new minimum work requirement enacted for more than 60,000 food stamp recipients.

The group Stand With Dignity sent a complaint letter to Jindal and his Department of Children and Families Services secretary, Suzy Sonnier, calling the work requirements “unreasonably harsh.”

The Jindal administration let a federal waiver expire on Oct. 1 that allowed adults aged 18 to 49 without children to receive food stamps without a work requirement. They will soon be required to work at least 20 hours per week or be enrolled in a federally-approved job training program to receive benefits.

States that meet certain U.S. Labor Department criteria have been able to get waivers from the work requirements in federal law.

Read more: http://theadvocate.com/news/13942253-123/jindal-administration-asked-to-reconsider