Humane re-test: DPW proposes a better food-stamp standard
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After a blizzard of criticism on its proposal to reinstate an asset test for food stamp eligibility, the administration of Gov. Tom Corbett decided Wednesday to replace its harsh initial standard with something humane.
It was the right thing to do.
As noted in an editorial here last month, there is nothing wrong with the state checking a food stamp applicant's assets, along with income, to determine eligibility. In fact, Pennsylvania had done so until 2008.
But the current Department of Public Welfare wanted to give food stamps to no one under age 60 with more than $2,000 in savings or other assets, and to no one over 60 with more than $3,250. That was way too low.
Now it wants the savings cutoff for those under 60 to be $5,500 and for those older or disabled to be $9,000 -- numbers that are very close to the Post-Gazette's proposal on Jan. 11.
Exempt from the total would be a person's home, car, household contents, burial plot, life insurance and pension plan. Counted toward the limit would be cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds and additional vehicles.
This is a more realistic test of need, and the Corbett administration deserves credit for listening to Pennsylvanians and revising its plan.
First Published February 3, 2012 12:00 am
