In re Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest

No. PRM01-01 (Neb. Dep't of Health and Human Servs. Feb. 4, 2002) ; Clearinghouse Number: 54285

Description

Nebraska Agrees to Change Its Vehicle Resource Limit for Food Stamp Recipients

Abstract

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services agreed to change its food stamp rule regarding the resource limit for motor vehicles. Petitioner advocacy organization asked it to exercise the federal option of changing its manner of counting vehicles when determining eligibility for food stamps to match the rules found in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program. Petitioner asserted that agency was finding a large number of working families who were income-eligible for food stamps ineligible because the vehicles they used to commute to work had value exceeding the resource limit. Since 1977,when the value limit was established, it had been increased only once, to $4,650. Petitioner argued that a rule change to exempt a household’s primary vehicle would simplify vehicle-value determination. Granting the petition for rule making, agency changed its rules to exclude a vehicle used to produce income or to transport a disabled household member or household fuel or water if the vehicle had (1) an equity value below $1,500 or (2) a market value below $12,000. Petitioner estimated that the change could put $2.9 million in federal food stamp dollars into the hands of working families.

Additional Information

Attorney Information
Petitioner represented by: Rebecca L. Gould, D. Milo Mumgaard, Nebraska Appleseed Center For Law in the Public Interest, Welfare Due Process Project, 941 “O” Street, Suite 105, Lincoln, NE 68508, (402.438.8853)
Docket Date
2002-02-04 00:00:00+00:00