Bill Text: NJ ACR33 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializes Congress and President to authorize Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program demonstration projects involving disability benefits.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Human Services Committee [ACR33 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-ACR33-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 33
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RALPH R. CAPUTO
District 28 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Memorializes Congress and President to authorize Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program demonstration projects involving disability benefits.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
A Concurrent Resolution memorializing the Congress and President of the United States to enact legislation authorizing certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program demonstration projects involving disability benefits.
Whereas, Each month, millions of Americans with disabilities receive assistance through programs such as: the federal Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI), which provides cash benefits to insured disabled workers under the full retirement age and to their spouses and children; the federal Supplemental Security Income program (SSI), which provides cash payments to low-income elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities; and SSI state supplementary payments, whereby states may voluntarily supplement federal SSI payments to provide a higher benefit level than that specified by federal law; and
Whereas, Nationally, about 10.9 million individuals receive SSDI benefits (including disabled workers and their spouses and children) and 6.2 million individuals with disabilities under age 65 receive SSI payments, according to March 2013 data from the U.S. Social Security Administration; and
Whereas, Many of these same individuals also receive assistance with purchasing food and obtaining a nutritionally adequate diet through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamp program, which provides nutrition assistance to low-income individuals and families; and
Whereas, For example, about 51 percent of all SSI recipients between 2001 and 2006 resided in households receiving SNAP benefits, according to research conducted by the U.S. Social Security Administration; and
Whereas, In establishing the SNAP eligibility of a household with individuals with disabilities, the SNAP program calculates the net monthly income of the household by applying various deductions to its gross monthly income, which, except for certain exclusions, generally includes all earned income and unearned income such as SSDI benefits and SSI payments; and
Whereas, Households with individuals with disabilities generally qualify for SNAP benefits if all household members receive SSI, or if the net monthly income of the household, as calculated by the SNAP program, falls below 100 percent of the federal poverty level; and
Whereas, The amount of SNAP benefits received by an eligible household is calculated by subtracting 30 percent of its net monthly income from an allotment, varying by household size, that the U.S. Department of Agriculture deems sufficient to purchase a minimally adequate low-cost diet; for a single individual, the maximum allotment is $200 per month in federal fiscal year 2013, or $2,400 annually; and
Whereas, Because unearned income is counted toward the net monthly income of a household, SNAP recipients with disabilities who receive SSDI or SSI disability benefits may see their SNAP benefits reduced by a portion of those disability benefit amounts, and any cost-of-living increases in SSDI or SSI benefits may result in additional, offsetting decreases in SNAP benefits received; and
Whereas, The reduction of SNAP benefits resulting from SSDI or SSI cost-of-living adjustments may nullify some of the increased financial support conferred to individuals with disabilities and their families by those cost-of-living adjustments; and
Whereas, Due to their disabilities, individuals receiving SNAP and either SSDI or SSI may have limited opportunities to otherwise improve their financial conditions through gainful employment and may depend heavily on SSDI, SSI, SNAP, and other government benefits for securing food, shelter, and other basic needs for themselves and their families; and
Whereas, Pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States is authorized to approve state pilot or experimental projects designed to test SNAP program changes that might increase the efficiency of SNAP and improve the delivery of SNAP benefits to eligible households; and
Whereas, However, federal law does not specifically authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to approve state demonstrations that would evaluate the costs and outcomes of disregarding portions of unearned income from SSDI or SSI benefits when determining household eligibility for SNAP benefits and when calculating the amounts of SNAP benefits to be received by households; and
Whereas, The potentially positive outcomes of these demonstrations may include improved nutrition, health, and economic well-being for low-income individuals with disabilities and their families; and
Whereas, This Legislature wishes to support the well-being of individuals with disabilities and their families by urging the Congress and the President of the United States to amend the "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008" to authorize state demonstrations that would allow for disregarding portions of unearned income from SSDI or SSI benefits when determining SNAP eligibility for low-income individuals with disabilities, including demonstrations that would protect individuals and families from losing SNAP benefits due to SSDI or SSI cost-of-living adjustments; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):
1. This Legislature respectfully memorializes the Congress and the President of the United States to enact legislation amending the "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States to approve Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program state demonstrations that would disregard portions of federal Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, as provided pursuant to Title II of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. s.401 et seq.), federal Supplemental Security Income benefits, as provided pursuant to Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. s.1381 et seq.), and Supplemental Security Income supplementary payments, as provided in the State of New Jersey pursuant to P.L.1973, c.256 (C.44:7-85 et seq.), when determining Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program eligibility for low-income individuals with disabilities. This Legislature supports federal legislation that would authorize these Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program demonstrations including, but not limited to, demonstrations that would protect low-income individuals with disabilities and their families from losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits due to cost-of-living adjustments associated with federal Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, federal Supplemental Security Income payments, or Supplemental Security Income State supplementary payments.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this concurrent resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and the President of the Senate and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly and the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the presiding officers of the United States Congress, each of the members of the Congress elected from the State of New Jersey, and the President of the United States.
STATEMENT
This concurrent resolution respectfully memorializes the Congress and President of the United States to enact legislation authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States to approve Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) state demonstrations that would disregard portions of federal Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, federal Supplemental Security Income payments, and Supplemental Security Income State supplementary payments. The resolution expresses support for legislation that would authorize these SNAP demonstrations, including, but not limited to, demonstrations that would protect low-income individuals with disabilities from losing SNAP benefits due to cost-of-living adjustments associated with federal Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, federal Supplemental Security Income payments, or Supplemental Security Income State supplementary payments.
These newly authorized demonstrations would allow federal and state officials to evaluate the costs and outcomes of disregarding a portion of disability benefits when determining SNAP eligibility and calculating SNAP benefits. The potentially positive outcomes of these demonstrations may include improved nutrition, health, and economic well-being for low-income individuals with disabilities and their families.
