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Food stamp debate: Who can work?

March 30, 2017, Oakwood - Jenny Taylor, Senior Director of Career Services, poses for a portrait at the Goodwill of North Georgia in Oakwood, Georgia, on Thursday, March 30, 2017. The Goodwill of North Georgia’s career center offers training to many individuals who have a desire to work and are looking for a job in order to continue to receive SNAP benefits. (DAVID BARNES / DAVID.BARNES@AJC.COM)
March 30, 2017, Oakwood - Jenny Taylor, Senior Director of Career Services, poses for a portrait at the Goodwill of North Georgia in Oakwood, Georgia, on Thursday, March 30, 2017. The Goodwill of North Georgia’s career center offers training to many individuals who have a desire to work and are looking for a job in order to continue to receive SNAP benefits. (DAVID BARNES / DAVID.BARNES@AJC.COM)
By Craig Schneider
April 7, 2017

As Georgia expands work requirements to more food stamp recipients, state officials are are finding that hundreds of people thought to be able-bodied aren't really capable of holding a job.

Some people with disabilities likely lost their food stamps when they failed to find work, though the number remains unknown as the state has not tracked such figures. Others are still collecting food stamps after being reclassified as unable to work.

The state's work mandate applies to food stamp recipients in 24 counties who are able-bodied and without children. The policy says they can only collect food stamps for three months, unless they get into a job or training program.

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