The rules requiring low-income and work-able adults to work on food aid came into effect Monday throughout the state, which has resulted in Michigan Human Services, to restore working conditions imposed by the federal government for more than a decade because of the high unemployment rate. .

But some social service groups warn that, despite what appears to be a booming economy, a significant number of people are still hungry and the reinstated demands – and others like it, that link government support to work – are an additional obstacle that can harm people in office. need.

These groups are also, according to some groups, the precursor of other policies aimed at limiting other social benefits.

Read on for more details on the policy and details on some frequently asked questions:

Who will be affected?

The state has sent letters to more than 67,000 people likely to be affected by the change of August.

According to the reinstated requirements, adults – aged 18 to 49 years old and having no children – must work 20 hours a week or volunteer to continue to receive food aid, thus contributing to a lower rate unemployment, said the department.

"People do not need to worry immediately about losing their food aid," said Bob Wheaton, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, on Monday. "It only happens when people have a new determination of their case."

For some people, he said, it may have been Monday, for others it could take up to a year.

"Then," he added, "the federal law has three months to receive food aid with no obligation to work.In this case, you have three months.You will not lose your help immediately. food. "

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This requirement had already been reinstated in 14 counties – Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Clinton, Eaton, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, Livingston, Oakland, Ottawa and Washtenaw – but the rules came into effect Monday in the rest from the country. the counties.

Nevertheless, Wheaton added, the change is expected to affect only a small percentage of food aid.

Last month, 7,631 people lost their food assistance benefits in Michigan due to the reinstatement of working conditions since January 1, 2017. Of this number, there were 2,662 cases in the county. Oakland, 865 to Washtenaw and 116 to Livingston.

Does volunteering matter?

A person must work an average of 20 hours per week in an unsubsidized job, take an approved 20-hour week training course or volunteer for general interest work with a non-profit organization.

"If people are looking to do community service," said Wheaton, "they should check with their local county office and make sure that all community services rendered will be eligible and that the time will be in accordance with the # 39; s requirement. "

Are the rules new?

The state said it was restoring federal requirements and not new ones. But the rules have been suspended in Michigan for at least 15 years, about half a generation. It is therefore difficult to know exactly what effect would restore them.

The state received a waiver for the requirements in 2002, when its unemployment rate reached 6% and almost 14%. The unemployment rate is now about 4%, which is close to the national rate.

Nevertheless, food banks in Michigan and across the country need donations.

In early summer, the Gleaners Community Food Bank in Detroit said that food donations were inadequate and that the public tended to think that food banks did not need as much food when the economy was recovering.

Last year, the Gleaners distributed more than 42 million pounds of food, an average of 96,000 meals a day.

Forgotten Harvest, in Oak Park, which focuses primarily on the distribution of fresh produce, said that even in times of economic crisis, there was a need for food.

"We will have to evaluate the situation if other people are lining up for the pantry," said Christopher Ivey, marketing director of Forgotten Harvest. "We are here to serve the community because it needs us."

One of the benefits of the new requirement, however, may be a greater number of volunteers, people seeking to fulfill their service obligations to the community to remain eligible for social services.

Who is opposed to reinstatement?

Some researchers argue that the demands of work do not necessarily help those in need and can even plunge people into a downward spiral that pushes them further into poverty because they are unable to meet their most basic needs.

Marian Kramer-Baker, who received public aid in the 1970s and is now president of the National Union of Social Welfare Rights, said that the demands of work are forcing people to work down salary and prevent them from taking studies.

"It's purely criminal," she said. "You have to use all these pennies to be able to spend the month, which is slave work for us, you have to have food, clothes and shelter – and the main thing is food."

Kate White, executive director of the Michigan Community Action Association in Lansing, said asking people to show they were working to get rights tends to make it more difficult to get out of poverty and in some cases to aggravate the situation.

"I really do not know if it will affect a lot of people or if a significant number of people are working and need to take extra steps to document their work," said White. "It seems like an extra hoop to get people to go through what I think is a relatively small – important, but small – benefit and hope it does not become a trend."

The association aims to reduce poverty and supports 29 local groups.

"We are not talking about getting a gift card to answer a survey," said White about assistance benefits. "We talk about the essentials of everyday life, so I'm not afraid to tie that to the demands of work."

Is this a political trend?

Advocates of the work requirement can bring the concept of restoration work back to colonization when, in Jamestown, Virginia, John Smith proclaimed, "He who does not work will not eat."

In the 1990s, it was the policy of governments to reduce poverty by ensuring that working conditions allowed them to receive social benefits.

A report released earlier this year by the The Pew Research Center predicts that there will be tougher restrictions and more work demands to qualify for benefits, as well as more restrictions on the benefits offered.

Contact Frank Witsil at 313-222-5022 or [email protected].

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