MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) — Thousands of metro Atlanta residents are expected to lose their food stamps this week, having failed to meet a new deadline requiring them to find a job.
Citing estimates from state officials, news outlets report that as many as 5,000 people in Cobb, Gwinnett and Hall counties are expected to lose their federally funded benefits on Friday.
The three counties are included in a state pilot program that started in January and requires able-bodied adults without children to get into a job or training program in order to continue collecting food stamps for more than three months in a three-year period.
Supporters say the work requirement prevents people from taking advantage of the system. Opponents fear the state could take food away from people whose physical or mental problems prevent them from holding a job.
