Corbett eases plan for food stamps asset test
The administration of Gov. Tom Corbett is relaxing the guidelines of an asset test it wants to impose on people seeking food stamps, and now says it wants to set a $5,500 limit, and $9,000 for households with a disabled or elderly member.
The Department of Public Welfare said Wednesday it submitted the plan to the federal government as part of its effort to ensure the needy get help while public money is spent wisely.
A previous plan by the administration set the asset test at what critics said would meet the most stringent limits allowed by federal law, including no more than $2,000 for regular households.
Advocates for the poor had said that level is unusually punitive and will create barriers for people who genuinely need the federal benefit.
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