About 17,000 Escambia County residents who receive food stamps now face a work requirement that went into effect Jan. 1 — and the possibility of at least temporarily losing benefits if they don’t meet the guidelines. Statewide, about 300,000 Floridians are impacted.
As of the first of the year, able-bodied, childless adults ages 18 to 49 were required to work, get job training or volunteer 20 hours a week to receive food stamps through what is formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Otherwise, they’re limited to three months of food assistance in each 36-month period.
The work requirement dates back to a 1996 welfare overhaul, but the federal government waived it in 2009 during the economic recession. Now, after unemployment rates have dropped, states are resuming the use of the work requirement.
In Escambia County, the areas that will be hit hardest, if they aren’t able to meet the requirements will be West Pensacola with 2,218 households on food stamps, Ferry Pass 1,518 households, Brent 1,463 households , Ensley 1,451 households and Warrington 1,352 households.
Households receiving food stamps by area
Escambia County 16,843
Pensacola 3,277
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Century 242
Goulding 374
West Pensacola 2,218
Warrington 1,352
Molino 122
Brent 1,463
Ensley 1,451
Myrtle Grove 891
Ferry Pass 1,518
Bellview 933
Gonzalez 418