Advocates Stop IDHS from Implementing Rule that Would Cut Food Stamps for Families on TANF

    The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) last July proposed new Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) rules that were designed, in part, to bring the state’s TANF program in line with new federal requirements. We discussed some of the serious problems with these proposed rules in last month’s POVERTY ACTION REPORT, available here.

    Also included in the July 2007 package of proposed regulations was a rule that would reduce the food stamps of certain families who are in the TANF program and have children under age 6. Under the proposal, these families would incur a food stamp sanction (reduction) when an adult in the family incurs a TANF sanction for failing to comply with a TANF work activity requirement. Because TANF sanctions are becoming increasingly difficult to avoid, this proposal would have had a devastating effect on the health and well-being of young children. Having enough food is the most basic of human needs, and normal brain development is impeded in very young children who are hungry, undernourished, and in poor health.

    To make matters worse, there was no good reason for Illinois to propose such a rule. Under federal law, states may exempt families with children under age 6 from having their food stamps sanctioned if an adult in the family incurs a TANF sanction for failing to comply with a TANF work activity requirement. Indeed, 34 out of the 34 other states that encounter this problem have elected to exempt these families from having their food stamps reduced (the other 15 states do not operate under the same food stamp waiver as Illinois, so this is not an issue for them). Moreover, because food stamps are 100 percent federally funded, Illinois would realize no savings from this proposed policy.

    Alarmed that IDHS would consider implementing this needless rule that would surely hurt poor families, the Shriver Center joined a mobilized coalition of more than 40 advocacy organizations to urge IDHS to reconsider this policy. A copy of the coalition’s letter to the agency can be found here.

    Faced with overwhelming opposition, IDHS agreed to rescind the proposed rule. 

    This is a victory for antipoverty advocates. Families in the TANF program do not need to worry about losing their food stamps when they cannot comply with a TANF requirement. The Shriver Center will continue to follow closely IDHS rule and policy changes that affect families in the TANF program. 

For more information, contact Liz Mazur.