Effective September 1, 2015, parolees with a felony drug conviction are once again eligible to apply for and receive federal food assistance commonly known as Food Stamps.

Many states opted to bar drug felons from Foods Stamps, which is now known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), for life when the measure was created in 1996. Texas is now the 44th state to opt out of the ban instituted during the Clinton administration.

Under the new policy, first time drug felons will be eligible for food stamps so long as they comply with the conditions of their parole and do not re-offend. Violating terms of their parole or re-offending will place the offender back on the life-time ban list. Parolees are still not eligible for monetary assistance through what was formerly known as the “welfare” program.

Texas residents convicted of non-drug related felonies will continue to be able to receive benefits, as they were never included in the ban.

Any Texas resident can apply for SNAP (food stamps) www.YourTexasBenefits.com.