SRS Official Defends Food Stamp Policy

Mon, January 30, 2012

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AP / Fletcher Powell

A top Kansas social services official told legislators Monday that a new policy reducing or cutting off food stamp benefits to hundreds of U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants is fairer than the previous policy.

Michelle Schroeder, public policy director for the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, also told the House Appropriations Committee that federal rules gave SRS few options.

An SRS policy enacted Oct. 1 changed how household incomes are calculated for determining eligibility for food stamps. SRS officials have said the change ended a practice that favored families with illegal immigrants.

Majority Republicans on the committee appeared to support the change, despite criticism from some social service advocates.

SRS says about 2,000 children have lost food stamp benefits since Oct. 1.