Gov-Elect Edwards To Remove Food Stamp Work Requirement

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) —Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards intends to remove work requirements that Gov. Bobby Jindal has enacted for more than 60,000 food stamp recipients.

Edwards sent a letter Monday to the U.S. Department of Agriculture saying he will seek a federal waiver of the work requirements. The governor-elect says Louisiana's unemployment rate qualifies it to skip the work mandate.

He's asking the USDA and the state social services department to stop any interruption of benefits until Edwards can reapply for the waiver that Jindal allowed to expire.

The work requirements are supposed to kick in Jan. 1 for adults aged 18 to 49 without children. To receive food stamps, they must work at least 20 hours per week or be enrolled in job training.

A lawsuit has been filed challenging the requirements.