May 10, 2005
New Law Broadens Eligibility for Public Assistance
Montanans who have been convicted of a drug-related felony may now be eligible for SNAP and cash assistance under a law passed by the 2005 Legislature.
In 1996, Congress enacted a welfare reform law that prohibited those convicted of drug-related felonies from getting federal benefits, according to Karlene Grossberg, chief of the Public Assistance Bureau of the state Department of Public Health and Human Services. However, the law also gave state policymakers the authority to override that provision. Senate Bill 29, sponsored by Sen. Trudi Schmidt of Great Falls, did just that, Grossberg said.
"The bill easily passed both the House and Senate," she added. "Lawmakers saw it as a way to strengthen families and help people successfully transition back into their communities."
Beginning July 1, individuals who have been disqualified from receiving SNAP and cash assistance because they have been convicted of a drug-related felony will be able to have the benefits restored if they have served their sentence or are complying with their probation or parole plan and any required drug-treatment plan. Cash assistance benefits are distributed through the state Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, program.
The food stamp and cash assistance programs both help people seek employment or undergo training that will help them find a job, Grossberg noted.
To apply for assistance, individuals should contact their county Office of Public Assistance.
Page last updated: 06/15/2006
