Cohen Backs Easier Food Stamp Eligibility for GIs

WASHINGTON â€”  Defense Secretary William S. Cohen on Wednesday rejected a proposal that would have made some of the lowest-paid soldiers ineligible for food stamps, saying he would do the opposite.

In a three-paragraph statement, Cohen said he will work with the Agriculture Department to try to change how eligibility is calculated.

The announcement followed a howl of disapproval from soldiers and others over a proposal that would have made the income of service members already getting foods stamps look higher on paper--and so get them kicked off assistance rolls.

Vice President Al Gore weighed in, saying he opposed reducing the number eligible but planned to make his own recommendations to “eliminate the kinds of conditions that require soldiers to make ends meet by relying on food stamps.�

During the presidential campaign, Republican rival George W. Bush has deplored the idea that any U.S. soldier would have to receive such assistance.

Critics suggested the earlier idea was designed to solve a problem that has caused embarrassment for the military--the specter of having uniformed people in the service of the country forced to seek outside help in feeding their families.

Though Cohen had never approved the earlier proposal, he noted Wednesday that it had “sent mixed signals� and said he wanted “to set the record straight.�

“I support military men and women receiving every federal benefit to which they are entitled,� he said.

The Pentagon says about 6,300 people in the military were on food stamps in 1998, compared with 12,000 in 1995. It says the base salary going into effect in January for a sergeant with six years in the service will be $1,691 a month.

At issue was a suggestion by Bernard Rostker, the Army undersecretary nominated to become the Pentagon’s top personnel official. Rostker said in a Senate committee confirmation hearing last week that methods for calculating income were different for those living off-base and those living on-base--an inequity he wanted to correct.

People who live off-base get a housing allowance, which is included as pay to calculate their income. Those living on-base get free housing; there is no housing allowance given, making them look poorer on paper than their counterparts, and eligible for help.

Rostker said he wanted to start counting the value of on-base housing as income, giving most of those on-base an income too high to get food stamps.

But Cohen said he would ask the Agriculture Department to change the rules so housing allowances paid to people off-base would not be counted in their income.

If the change were approved, some soldiers would then become eligible to receive food stamps.