Asset Test Guidelines Set To Qualify For Food Stamps In Pennsylvania

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - The Corbett administration has announced the guidelines of a controversial asset test it plans to re-impose in order for people to qualify for food stamps.

The announcement is being portrayed in some quarters as the Corbett administration "relaxing" the guidelines but while it was originally reported that the administration planned to set the asset limit for food stamps at $2,000.

Corbett spokesman Kevin Harley says the number was not actually set until now.

"What Governor Corbett said is that we will have an asset test, however, the actual amount was to be determined, and we've determined that now," he says. "So it was always in discussion, going back and forth between the Department of Welfare and the Governor's Office and the Department of Agriculture."

Instead of $2,000, the Corbett administration plans to set the asset limit at $5,500 for households age 59 and under and $9,000 for households age 60 and above or with disabled persons.