People who depend on food stamps may soon face new work requirements

People who depend on benefits such as food stamps could be placed under new restrictions.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order pushing for more work requirements.

The Trump administration wants people who aren't working not to be allowed to collect food stamps and other government benefits.

The executive order directs federal agencies in the next 90 days to come up with ways to add more work requirements.

“We have more than 6 million open jobs across America right now. We need workers and there are too many people sitting on the sidelines on welfare,” said Kristina Rasmussen with the Foundation for Government Accountability.

Right now, about half of food stamp recipients do have someone in the household who is working.

Critics of the president's plan say tougher work requirements could cause families to go hungry.

“Their lack of work isn't coming from a lack of desire to work,” said Frederick Isasi with Families USA.

TRENDING STORIES:

Trump can only do so much through executive order. For major changes, Congress would have to act, and that's expected to happen this week.

Channel 2's Justin Gray learned a new bill expected to be introduced in Congress this week would go even farther than the executive order.

The farm bill will likely have tougher work requirements, including requiring some parents of older children to work if they want to receive assistance.

“No one will come off the program if they don’t want to. The standard is work, train or volunteer 20 hours a week,” Rasmussen said.

“This idea, that if you are not working you can't qualify for these things, ignores the fact that, in many cases, these are the things that will allow you to work,” Isasi said.

The executive order doesn't just deal with food stamps.

It's ordering all departments to explore work requirements. That includes programs such as Medicaid and housing assistance.

Cox Media Group