WASHINGTON — The Trump budget blueprint was silent on the government’s largest social welfare programs, but elimination of federal help to pay heating bills also would cut back on food stamps for about 71,000 people in Connecticut.
Food Stamps
Posted inHealth
DSS’s long-awaited computer fix finally arrives, starting today
The mainframe computer system underpinning operations at the state Department of Social Services is so old, there are few people left who know how to fix it. It’s been blamed for stymieing the agency’s ability to handle programs that serve nearly 1 million people. As its replacement launches in part of the state today, officials say some growing pains are expected.
Posted inPolitics
Food stamp benefits end for some single adults in 87 CT towns
WASHINGTON — Because the economy has improved in the towns where they live, thousands of Connecticut food stamp recipients lost their food stamp benefits beginning this month. The state’s economic upturn in 82 towns has caused able-bodied, childless, adult food stamp recipients who are unemployed to lose their benefits unless they got jobs, education or training at least 20 hours a week.
Posted inPolitics
Food stamps ending for some in towns with high employment
WASHINGTON – The state’s economic upturn – at least in about half of Connecticut’s cities and towns – isn’t good news for about 3,600 food stamp benefits who will lose their benefits in about three months unless they get a job or job training.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
You can help reduce food insecurity in Connecticut
The Bartletts are a family of four with two children, aged 8 and 4. Mr. Bartlett recently lost his job and Mrs. Bartlett works part-time for a retailer at just above minimum wage. Even with their limited income and some benefits including help from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food-stamps), it is still extremely difficult for them to regularly put nutritious food on the table. With Thanksgiving just behind us, and the rest of the holiday season ahead, food insecure households like the Bartletts will face additional challenges as they continue to struggle to make ends meet and still observe their holiday traditions.
Posted inPolitics
Connecticut’s Washington Week
Pope Francis’ visit to Washington, which included an address to the joint session of Congress, overshadowed everything this week — except perhaps House Speaker John Boehner’s subsequent resignation.
Posted inHealth, Politics
USDA tells states to process food stamps again, but no guarantee of benefits
WASHINGTON – In an abrupt change of policy, federal officials have instructed state agencies, including Connecticut’s Department of Social Services, to resume processing food stamp benefits for October. But with a possible shutdown of the federal government looming, that doesn’t assure that anyone will receive them at the beginning of the month.
Posted inPolitics
Feds tell states to stop processing food stamp benefits
WASHINGTON – The state’s 423,000 food stamp recipients could soon be early victims of Washington’s budget crisis. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has instructed the Connecticut Department of Social Services and similar agencies in all of the states to not dispense any October benefits to food stamp recipients “until further notice.” Some $60 million in food aid could hang in the balance, one Connecticut official said.
Posted inPolitics
DeLauro urges Pope to address social ills in speech to Congress
WASHINGTON — Rep. Rosa DeLauro has led an effort by congressional Democrats to urge Pope Francis to bring his social teachings to Congress when the pontiff makes his historic speech there on Sept. 24.
Posted inPolitics
Food stamp program under GOP microscope
WASHINGTON – Congressional Republicans this week began a comprehensive review of the food stamp program to determine what is working – and to eliminate what in their view is not – a move that could impact thousands of recipients in Connecticut. Even without changes in the program, thousands of unemployed food stamp recipients in Connecticut may find they are no longer eligible after the end of the year.
Posted inPolitics
In outgoing Congress, DeLauro burnished liberal credentials
WASHINGTON – Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s liberal activism may not have helped her win GOP support of her legislative effort in the outgoing Congress, but it helped galvanize the left wing of her party. (This is the third in a series of stories about the roles each member of the Connecticut congressional delegation played in the 113th Congress.)
Posted inNews
Newly legalized CT immigrants eligible for Social Security, Medicare, but not other benefits
WASHINGTON – Immigrants in Connecticut who receive provisional legal status under President Obama’s new executive orders will be eligible for Social Security and Medicare, but not food stamps or health care benefits provided by AccessHealthCT.
Posted inHealth
Food stamp backlog could cost Connecticut federal money
Connecticut could lose up to $3.7 million in expected federal funding because of continued problems in handling food stamp cases.
Posted inPolitics
DeLauro defends CT food stamp policy against GOP attacks
“First of all I say, ‘Bravo,’” Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat who represents the New Haven area, said. [Governors] “are following the law.”
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy blasts Boehner for saying CT ‘cheating’ on food stamps
Washington – Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said House Speaker John Boehner is “shameful” and “reprehensible” when he says states like Connecticut are cheating when it comes to the federal food stamp program.