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Sliding scale a good move

Officials with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services made an important change that should help the program do better help those who are part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Last week, ODJFS Director Matt Damschroder announced a sliding scale to allow recipients to move off the program gradually. That way, recipients will feel less as though they need to turn down promotions or new job opportunities to keep food on the table.

“Fear of losing food benefits can be a deterrent to taking a new job, working more hours, or even accepting a promotion,” Damschroder said, according to WCMH. “This provides an incentive to accept promotions and pay raises knowing they won’t immediately lose benefits.”

Instead, rather than face a “benefits cliff,” recipients can now gradually have their benefits decrease as their income increases, until that income reaches 200% of the federal poverty level.

This is not just a win for recipients, it’s a win for employers, too. WCMH reports some employers called the benefits cliff a barrier to expanding their workforce.

ODJFS also announced changes in the maximum SNAP benefits, ranging from $292 per month for a one-person household to $1,756 per month for an eight-person household. But work requirements have not changed.

For those working their way through the program, the sliding scale is an important change to help them reach their own goals while reducing dependence on SNAP. Administrators are to be commended for making the adjustment.

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