Thousands in metro Atlanta no longer eligible for food stamps

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Thousands of metro Atlantans are finding out that they are no longer eligible for food stamps.

About 6,000 food stamp recipients are now required to find work or get into a job program after getting the benefit for three months.

The change applies to able-bodied adults who have no dependents. %

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“They’re younger than 50, older than 18. They are not incapacitated in any way. They don’t have a mental or physical disability that’s documented and/or could be observable,” said Division of Family and Children services spokesperson Susan Boatwright.

The Legal Aid Society says people who are still unemployable may fall under the new requirements.

“For veterans, who may be partially disabled due to PTSD, they would not be exempt (from the new requirements),” Rachel Lazarus said.

The change affects Cobb, Gwinnett and Hall counties because unemployment is below 10 percent in each county.

DFACS says more counties will be added as federal exemptions based on unemployment rate expire.

Kyaira Thomas applied for food stamps at the Cobb County DFACS office. She has a child, but says those who don’t have dependents still need help.

“Well not everybody can work, and it’s not that easy to find a job nowadays,” she said.

Lazarus worries some people will go hungry while looking for work.

“There are not the welfare queens that people sometimes talk about. These are very real people who may be looking for work, trying to find work, struggling to find work. They’re just not succeeding,” she said.

DFACS sent out five letters to each person affected by the change. If they did not respond, they will automatically be cut off.

Cox Media Group