The number of Wisconsin adults losing food stamp benefits for not pursuing work totaled 20,000 from January through June. About 3,000 lost Food Share benefits in June alone, after using up three months assistance without getting jobs or training required under a state law which took effect in April of last year.
Governor Scott Walker cited the numbers of Food Share recipients who found jobs, which totaled more than 14,000 in the first 15 months of the requirement. Those people had average wages of $12 per hour while working 32 hours per week.
The law requires able bodied adults ages 18-to-49 to work or train for at least 80 hours per week, in order to keep food stamp benefits after their three month grace period.