For over a decade, New Mexico has operated under a federal waiver that has enabled able-bodied adults without children to continue receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps, even if they are not employed.
However, this provision is changing due to declining unemployment rates in certain parts of the state. As a result, individuals aged 18 to 54 who are single, have no dependents, and reside in Bernalillo, Santa Fe, Eddy, and Los Alamos counties, as well as within the San Ildefonso, Pojoaque, Santa Clara, and Laguna pueblos, will now need to demonstrate that they are working at least 80 hours per month to remain eligible for SNAP benefits.
This change reflects a broader effort to encourage workforce participation among individuals in their prime working years. According to data from the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC Report), New Mexico has persistently struggled with low workforce participation rates. By incentivizing able-bodied adults to engage in the workforce, even through a minimal requirement of 80 hours per month, the state aims to address broader socioeconomic issues, including poverty and underemployment.
Nevertheless, some leftist groups have opposed these new work requirements, arguing that they impose unnecessary hardships on vulnerable populations and fail to account for regional disparities in job availability.
“It can have a hugely negative impact we know for a fact that it has no relationship helping families find new jobs. Taking away food assistance, if anything, make people’s lives more precarious and more difficult to find good work,” said Sovereign Hager, legal director of the leftist New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty.
The Rio Grande Foundation emphasizes that a modest work requirement for SNAP recipients is not an unreasonable expectation. Encouraging greater workforce engagement, especially for those without caregiving responsibilities, aligns with efforts to improve New Mexico’s economic landscape.
As the Foundation and the LFC noted, boosting workforce participation rates among eligible individuals could significantly impact the state’s economic and social challenges. “It is simply outrageous that able-bodied working-age adults without children are not expected to work a mere 80 hours a month to receive SNAP benefits (regardless of where they live),” the Foundation states. Encouraging these individuals to seek employment not only reduces dependence on public assistance but also contributes to the overall productivity and economic health of New Mexico.
Work is honorable.
Unless you’re a demoNAZI, taking something for Nothing is their Honor…
Any type of welfare is unconstitutional. The Federal Government is not constitutionally permitted to give my tax money to give people free healthcare (medicaid); food; housing; etc. The “welfare clause” ruling should be revisited and overturned. Just like ROE V Wade andthe soon to be dismantled Education Dept.
Either all citizens get food stamps or no one does. This is called equality, forcing by law for the middle and wealthy class to pay for others food is unconstitutional. Feeding the poor is the job of charities not the government.
I agree.
SNAP out of it, New Mexico.
Good one Paul!
Asking people to work in exchange for something is NOT a huge ask! I’m so sick of leftists using illogical arguments to justify letting people sit on their asses and collect benefits. I also don’t want to hear the saw about single mothers either. My mom worked 3 jobs to feed my brothers and I and she never applied for benefits or assistance. When she passed away, she had also nearly completed an Associates degree program. So if my mom could raise 3 kids, work, AND go to school at night, there is no excuse for people to not work a few hours you get benefits.
Your mother was a great example for you all. I was a single mom with 2 children and I too worked 2 jobs to make ends meet and never asked for assistance, ever!
If you don’t work, you don’t eat.
Paul and Todd, spot on!
I worked for the State of NM for 25 years in employment and training positions. (I have been out for some time, so don’t blame the current conditions on me. lol) One thing is certain; a working population is important for many reasons.
It has been far too long for this “waiver” to have been in effect. Here is the kicker… there are not enough jobs in NM for these folks to get working again. Also, fuel prices are still high and some of these folks who haven’t been working may not have a vehicle, or insurance.
The solution, NM needs JOBS!!! Call you legislators and those in D.C. and get New Mexico working again!
Have questions, reach out to me NM. We can fix this even with MLG and her minions in office. No reason to wait for her to be gonzo…
The thing is that our legislators do not want NM to work, they want to be in total control. They do not even answer any basic questions, you just get a letter that says “thanks for your letter” and does not answer your question.
The swamp here in NM needs to be cleaned out. But until New Mexicans realize that these people are not working for their best interest, the swamp will continue to rule. Sad but true.
Chingale or chingate!!!
I think that volunteer work under certain circumstances could be allowed to count as work hours. Of course there has to be accountability for the hours volunteered and it must be approved by the welfare program. Volunteer work can teach work skills and lead to a paying position. Just an idea.
Great idea Charlie, however, we do have an ethics problem in NM. We could end up with Nana simply stating that her Mijo volunteered to pull weeds, yet Nana is receiving notices from Mayor Keller that her weeds need to be pulled or face a fine.
Awesome!
Make New Mexico work again!
MNMWA. Make New Mexico work again!
There is always work, most of the jobless that “do not work” actually work under the table. There are always job openings, talk to construction companies, they have a hard time finding labors that show up everyday. If it were 4000 yrs ago and folks did not show up to work (hunting party) they would not eat and it would not be an issue. If they do not want to work move to California or Colorado or some other communist state. I do believe if folks are working and have children and the do not make a certain amount they should be able to get assistance, but they should not keep having kids they cannot afford.
New Mexico: “Work? What’s that?”
This is part of the reason that NM is at the bottom of the rankings in all categories. Just part of our culture. They know how to work the system.
It’s about time to make people work for there food I had to when I was growing up at the age of 12 at Safeway pulling weeds and bagging food
The Government needs to quit babying the people that can work.
Sounds like the “hand it to me” generation and “degenerates de nueva mexico” might have to get off their lazy asses and become productive/ contributing citizens..
I think that who ever needs to get off there asses and have some self respect and try to dogood for themselves. Go get a job feel good about your self. Know that you worked hard for what you got. It’s not a hard thing to do. I’m glad the rules have changed.
I’d hardly call working twenty hours a week a hardship when you’re single and able-bodied…. HOW MUCH OF A HARDSHIP IS WORKING 40-80 HOURS A WEEK AND GETTING A HUGE CHUNK OF MONEY TAKEN IN TAXES TO SUPPORT ABLE-BODIED INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LAZY!?!?!?!
This is a direct equivalent to being robbed in the street!!! Instead of a gun, they are using the IRS!!!
Agree-Agree that this mindset of doing nothing gets you free food? I also lots of shopping carts loaded up enough to feed a family for two months. The contents of these carts would seem conducive to stocking a food truck or a distribution of home made food for money. (i.e. burritos/tamales etc.) I am also appalled by the claim of starving kids. I have never seen one and the kids I do see are mostly fat and probably diabetic. I guess it bolsters and strokes the egos of out touch bigots who works on the heart strings of caring NM people.