MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The oldest social service organization in Monongalia County is reporting a large number of clients are receiving letters from the government stating they are being kicked off the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,
Scott’s Run Settlement House Executive Director Brian Butcher said he’s received at least six clients a day with SNAP benefits problems with Thanksgiving just weeks away.
Butcher said some of those clients are being denied benefits due to the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirements. Recipients between 16 and 59 years old are required to register with the state workforce development office, participate in SNAP training, and accept a suitable job if one is offered. Once employed, the clients cannot voluntarily quit and still receive benefits.
“Every single call we’ve received has been denial letters that are based on the work requirement,” Butcher said. “That’s the easiest way to put it.”
In some cases it could be a matter of timing that will get worked out by working through federal representatives. Butcher said whatever the case may be, they are working with families to guide them through the process to get reinstated into the program.
“I think some people probably applied and then reapplied on the same basis as they were before because there’s no change in anything until these work requirements came through,” Butcher said. “So, we’re trying to encourage people and walk them through the process.”
Under federal law, volunteer hours can be used to meet the 80 hours per month, or 20 hours of work each week. Local groups like the United Way are working together to establish a centrally located place where they could offer volunteer work that would count toward the requirement.
“Our organization and several other organizations in the county are working to try to have a central repository where people can volunteer so they don’t lose these benefits,” Butcher said.
Butcher is offering volunteer opportunities at Scott’s Run Settlement House locations at Cheat Lake and Osage. There are always things that need to be addressed daily at each location, and the need for volunteers can double when their monthly food allotment arrives. Volunteers can also help at distribution and other community events.
“We just want to give people the most opportunity we can to serve the community and learn about resources while they’re doing so,” Butcher said.
All the food pantries and feeding programs in the area need donations for the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s difficult for pantries and feeding programs to keep a mix of food items, so Butcher suggests making financial donations to allow each pantry to restock what is actually needed.
“We have like 500 cans of corn sitting on the shelf and no cereal,” Butcher said. “So, sometimes it can be a lot more useful for food pantries to receive monetary donations to go buy the food to fill in the gaps.”