Food stamps

In the coming months Missouri could join Kansas in tightening standards for food-stamp benefits eligibility.

An Associated Press story that appeared in the Oct. 9 Southeast Missourian said the state Department of Social Services proposed the eligibility change.

This would require those able to work and without children to meet the federal work requirement that was previously the standard in 2009.

Those living in counties with an unemployment rate higher than 10 percent could still see the work requirement waived. According to August numbers, only Caldwell, Hickory, Reynolds and Shannon counties had a 10 percent or higher unemployment rate.

The proposed change would allow able-bodied adult residents without children a three-month period to find a job of a minimum of 20 hours per week or enroll in an approved job training program.

According to the AP story, there are about 58,000 adults between 18 and 50 years old in Missouri who meet this criteria and receive food stamps.

Though Missouri likely would qualify for the federal waiver through 2015, the change does make sense. We believe there should be a work requirement for those receiving welfare, assuming the person is able to work. While we applaud state officials for looking at this, the process for making a decision looks unnecessarily long.

A public comment period will take place, and the change will be reviewed by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. The process could be six months or more.

We understand time is needed for the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to approve of the change, but six months seems excessive.

Including the three-month period to find a job, we could be looking at nine months for the system to return closer to 2009 levels.

We don't want those struggling and legitimately receiving food stamps to be hurt. Considering the country's economic situation over the past few years, it's understandable why some level of food benefits should be available. However, if unemployment rates are dropping and someone is able to work 20 hours per week, this proposal appears reasonable and still helps those in the most desperate circumstances.