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As many as 750,000 will be cut off from food stamps under a new regulation set to be announced Wednesday.

The change will make it harder for states to receive waivers for requirements that certain able-bodied adults work or be enrolled in vocational training programs in order to receive benefits, Bloomberg reported.

Currently, states can request a waiver for work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, if an area’s unemployment rate is at least 20 percent above the national rate. The national unemployment rate in October was 3.6 percent. Alabama’s preliminary unemployment rate for October was 2.8 percent.

As of August, 36.4 million Americans, including 721,299 Alabamians, receive food stamps.

Alabama currently doesn’t have any waivers in place.

Without the waiver, all SNAP recipients ages 18 to 49 who aren’t disabled or raising minor children are required to work at least part-time. Able-bodied adult SNAP recipients who don’t work are limited to three months of benefits within a three-year time frame.

Some exemptions are available for those who are physically or mentally unable to work; are pregnant; are caring for someone who is physically or mentally disabled; is a student; or is participating in a drug or alcohol treatment program.

The change is expected to save some $1.1 billion in the first year and $7.9 billion over five years.

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