To: The Tennessee State House, The Tennessee State Senate, and Governor Bill Lee
Give SNAP Back to People
Allow people without dependents to receive SNAP, regardless of employment status.
The State of Tennessee has decided to drop people from its SNAP program if they are deemed "able-bodied" (meaning that if you are disabled due to mental health issues or something similar you are not considered disabled by the State of Tennessee), have no dependents, and do not work 20 hours a week. The reason they have decided to do this is because they are somehow under the impression that unemployment is at an all-time low. Jobs are still difficult to acquire, and unemployment is NOT at an all-time low in Tennessee, despite what the State government believes. No one should be forced to starve just because they don't have children, they cannot get 20 hours at work, or that they are not Tennessee's ridiculous definition of disabled!
The State of Tennessee has decided to drop people from its SNAP program if they are deemed "able-bodied" (meaning that if you are disabled due to mental health issues or something similar you are not considered disabled by the State of Tennessee), have no dependents, and do not work 20 hours a week. The reason they have decided to do this is because they are somehow under the impression that unemployment is at an all-time low. Jobs are still difficult to acquire, and unemployment is NOT at an all-time low in Tennessee, despite what the State government believes. No one should be forced to starve just because they don't have children, they cannot get 20 hours at work, or that they are not Tennessee's ridiculous definition of disabled!
Why is this important?
I have severe depression and anxiety, and had been able to handle the symptoms of these until about five years ago, after a severely traumatic event happened. Now, I cannot work, but the State of Tennessee believes that, just because my hands still function, that I am not disabled. However, disability determination aside, I need to be able to eat, and contribute to my household's income, even if it is just by food stamps.
Also, a good friend of mine recently had their SNAP taken away because they cannot get any more than ten hours a week at their job. They are looking for another job, but many places do not offer 20-40 hour work weeks. They are working, but apparently, not enough to suit the State's standards. People, in general, need to be able to eat, even if they do not have a job or a child, and removing food stamps from unemployed adults will leave them starving, which no one deserves.
Also, a good friend of mine recently had their SNAP taken away because they cannot get any more than ten hours a week at their job. They are looking for another job, but many places do not offer 20-40 hour work weeks. They are working, but apparently, not enough to suit the State's standards. People, in general, need to be able to eat, even if they do not have a job or a child, and removing food stamps from unemployed adults will leave them starving, which no one deserves.