Food stamp benefits for many Americans have already been cut, beginning October 1, 1996. Some important improvements that were won after years of struggle have been canceled. One major loss was the elimination of the provision that would have allowed households for the first time to deduct their actual housing costs in calculating their income for food stamp purposes. It is hard to describe workfare as anything other than creating a supply of forced labor. Unemployed adults between the ages of 18 and 50 will be limited to 3 months of food stamps in a 3 year period-unless their state applies for a waiver based on a lack of jobs.
Immigrants are the single largest group under attack.
With some exceptions, immigrants are generally eliminated from receiving help from the federal government, though the state has the option to restore eligibility in many cases. California and New York are the states most affected. Forced Labor Workfare is a major focus of the federal welfare changes. When the politicians talk about moving people from welfare to work, they usually mean workfare, not a job. It is hard to describe workfare as anything other than creating a supply of forced labor in order to reduce welfare payments and undercut wages and working conditions for other Americans.