Under the old vehicle asset test requirements, last updated in 2001, a person whose first car was valued at $15,000 or more could not be eligible for benefits. If they had two cars, the second vehicle needed to have a value of $4,650 or less to qualify for benefits.
As inflation raised all prices, car values, even for older vehicles, climbed right to record highs, meaning that a large chunk of food-insecure Texans couldn’t get the benefits they needed. Maybe a $15,000 car was a nice ride in 2001. But we all know these days that it’s, at best, a get-around. As for a $4,650 car, you’ll be lucky if it starts.In car-centric Texas, it’s extremely difficult to keep a job and live in an affordable area without your own reliable transportation.
Under the updated standards, a person’s first vehicle would need to be valued at $22,500 or less and their second at $8,700 or less, for them to qualify for benefits. This expansion is encouraging, but it’s worth noting that Texas is one of just 10 states that still has a vehicle asset test for SNAP. Legislators should consider a more sustainable reform of the vehicle asset test, preferably one that has an adjustment for inflation baked into it, going forward.
In the short term though, we’re glad that lots of families will get the help they need and won’t have to sacrifice the convenience of having a reliable car just to feed their children. Being able to get to work and be sure their families are fed could even put them on a better path to independence.