Nearly 50,000 Oregon households would no longer be eligible to receive food assistance if a proposed federal rule change from the Trump administration becomes a reality.

The proposed rule would lower the income threshold for a family to qualify for food stamps, also called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It also would limit eligibility based on a family's assets, such as the cars they own. Currently, Oregon only looks at income.

The nearly 50,000-household figure translates into as many as 85,000 people, according to an analysis by the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Nationwide, 3.1 million Americans potentially could lose their food benefits.

An Oregon advocacy group that fights hunger is pushing hard against the proposal, saying it would be unfair to impoverished people and families.

“If they go through with this, the impact would be devastating for Oregon,” said Annie Kirschner, executive director of Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. “We oppose this proposed rule because it would increase hunger in Oregon. It would force more families into crisis, keep more families in poverty, and harm kids, seniors and our schools.”

Currently, a family of three in Oregon that makes up to $39,000 a yearis eligible for benefits. Under the proposal, that income limit would drop to about $26,000, meaning a family of three making $27,000 would be unable to get food assistance.

That's based on the income limit dropping to 130 percent of the federal poverty level. In Oregon, the income limit is currently 185 percent of the federal poverty level.

The potential loss in Oregon would impact about one out of every seven households that rely on the program for groceries.

In Oregon, 347,365 households were enrolled in the food stamp program in June, with an average monthly benefit of $211.42.

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In Marion County, 59,501 people, including children, benefited from the program in June, state data show. That's 10 percent of the 592,337 participants statewide.

Kirschner said other households that would become ineligible would be those with assets like an older used car worth about $3,000 or retirement or savings accounts.

The proposal is particularly harmful, she said, because it doesn't take into account other factors, like the high cost of living and housing expenses.

"Part of what will be especially hard will be for families that may have incomes that are just over the limit," she said.

There are other considerations. Red tape for other programs could increase.

For example, children in a family that qualifies for food stamps are automatically qualified for free lunches in public schools. If they become ineligible for food stamps, a family would have to complete an annual application to see if they still qualify for free lunches at school.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the federal program, published the proposal in July. At the time, agency officials defended the proposed rule change as a necessary fix to a loophole that allows some people to get benefits they don't need.

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“For too long, this loophole has been used to effectively bypass important eligibility guidelines," U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said in a press release. "Too often, states have misused this flexibility without restraint."

But the proposal has attracted wide opposition. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed onto a letter in August with 16 other governors opposing the rule change.

"As governors, we urge you to rescind this rule to preserve the flexibility needed to meet the food and nutrition needs of the low-income populations in our states," the letter says.

It's not a done deal. Comments are still being accepted until 11:59 p.m. Monday. If the rule change is approved, it's unclear how long it would take to become effective.

Ben Botkin covers Oregon state government. You can reach him at bbotkin@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6687 or follow him on Twitter @BenBotkin1