Undeserving: SNAP Reform and Conceptions of the Deserving Poor

(Hardback)

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Description

This book explores attempts to reform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. It argues that a growing focus on punitive policies attempts to characterize SNAP recipients as undeserving of governmental assistance. The book explores three areas of reform efforts: attempts to limit the types of food that can be purchased, attempts to implement drug testing, and attempts to restrict Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) from accessing SNAP. These attempts at reform highlight the ways that reformers view SNAP recipients as not deserving of assistance. This book argues that these reform efforts are based on conceptions of the deserving and undeserving poor rather than concrete data about SNAP recipients, and warns that if states are allowed greater flexibility SNAP could be reformed in a way that significantly reduces enrollment and leaves many Americans without a safety net.

Reviews

SNAP has become a central part of the social safety net and one of the few programs available to able-bodied adults without dependents who face challenges in the labor market. Drawing parallels with welfare reform under the TANF program, Matthew Gritters book calls much needed attention to conservative efforts to reframe SNAP as assisting the undeserving poor and state efforts to restrict access to benefits and impose punitive requirements on recipients.While the Obama administration blocked most of these efforts, Gritter persuasively argues that SNAP could potentially be significantly curtailed through state waivers and budget cuts under the Trump administration. -- Tracy Roof, University of Richmond

Author Bio

Matthew Gritter is assistant professor of political science at Angelo State University.