the unemployed during an economic downturn deans statement continued in this oct 20 2012 file photo a sign in front of a 7eleven in new york announces that the convenience store accept snap supplemental nutrition assistance program richard b levine via newscom file more new trump administration proposal would cut roughly 3 million people off food stamps according to the agriculture department the unemployment rate in 2000 was at 4 while individuals receiving benefits from snap was just over 17 million in 2019 the unemployment rate stands at 36 with more than 36 million individuals receiving snap benefits the usda said in its statement americans are generous people who believe it is their responsibility to help their fellow citizens when they encounter a difficult stretch perdue said in the statement government can be a powerful force for good but government dependency has never been the american dream we need to encourage people by giving them a helping hand but not allowing it to become an indefinitely giving hand he continued now in the midst of the strongest economy in a generation we need everyone who can work to work the rule would impact ablebodied adults without dependents between 1849 years old usda said in the statement it would not apply to children and their parents those over 50 years old including the elderly those with a disability or pregnant women more trumps new budget resurrects controversial harvest box proposal for food stamps as part of broader welfare reform the usda added there are multiple ways for individuals to engage and maintain their snap benefits from working to preparing for work and volunteering like states providing employment training programs states also have access to programs and services provided by other federal agencies state and county governments and local service providers the usda statement said abc news stephanie ebbs also contributed to this report