Among those most heavily impacted by the recent cut to SNAP food benefits are the 165,000 Washington families caring for disabled loved ones. These families tend to have much higher out-of-pocket expenses for non-covered over-the-counter medications and supplies. While Washington continues to refuse to pay spousal and parental caregivers, the burden of care frequently precludes other employment. When coupled with the severe financial resource limits imposed by state Medicaid programs, these families are far more vulnerable to any significant benefit cuts. As home care becomes increasingly unaffordable, many of these families are under intense financial pressure to abandon care of a loved one to far more expensive institutionalized care.

A case in point, Jon, is profoundly disabled and requires continual care which precludes any employment by his spouse. They have struggled to make ends meet solely on Jon’s monthly disability payment. The family was recently notified that their monthly SNAP benefit would be reduced from $516 to $13. This cut in benefits represents a 97.5 percent reduction in SNAP benefits and is nearly 30% of their monthly income! This benefit cut dramatically increases the risks to Jon’s continued care at home. To avoid his forced return to skilled nursing care, the family is relying on a GoFundMe campaign to replace their lost benefits. Jon's family's story has been recently featured on Seattle's Q13 Fox and KIRO 7 news, as well as being recently featured on Scripps News Service. The latter of which is slated to be re-broadcast on their syndicated stations nationwide.

FACT: Governor Inslee and the state legislature have virtually ignored this issue. Only passing an inadequate bill allocating a mere $26 million to supplement Food Banks, 'Fruit & Vegetable' and Senior Meal programs. This small amount represents less than one week's worth of lost SNAP benefits, and the funding expires on June 30th. Worst of all, not a single dollar goes to any family to replace lost SNAP benefits!

Governor Inslee has thus far been content to sit on the sidelines of this issue. However, the scope of this food insecurity crisis demands decisive action by the Governor! Washington state has an estimated $14.7 billion budget surplus. The Governor has the option to either use his executive authority to re-purpose a small portion of that surplus to replace the SNAP benefits lost by families caring for disabled Medicaid clients, or to call a special legislative session to authorize the allocation of the needed funds.

Additionally, the Governor has the authority to direct DSHS, (the agency that oversees the SNAP program in Washington, to request a waiver from the USDA to suspend the rule that requires families spend 30% of their income on food for disabled Medicaid clients receiving their care at home. This single rule change would provide the crucially needed financial resources for these families to help make ends meet.

No family already struggling under the strain of providing care for a disabled loved one, should also have the added stress of how to put food on the table! Please sign this petition to demand that Governor Inslee take immediate action to provide critically needed financial security to these highly vulnerable families throughout Washington!

Thank you for signing this petition and please share it on your social media. Also, please visit a companion petition regarding this same issue at the federal level. That petition asks President Biden to take executive actions at his disposal to restore SNAP benefits to disabled Medicaid clients and their care-giving families. The link to that petition is here.