Understanding More Understanding More About Poverty,About Poverty,

Monica Bogucki, B.S.W., J.D. Monica Bogucki, B.S.W., J.D. 2009 copyright Monica Bogucki2009 copyright Monica Bogucki

Where do you apply for Where do you apply for government benefits?government benefits?

▪Most program are administered byMost program are administered by▪County Welfare DepartmentsCounty Welfare Departments▪County Departments of Economic County Departments of Economic

AssistanceAssistance▪County Social Service AgenciesCounty Social Service Agencies

What is a Combined Application Form?What is a Combined Application Form?

▪Combined Application Form part 1 (CAF 1)Combined Application Form part 1 (CAF 1)▪Establishes the application dateEstablishes the application date▪Combined Application Form part 2 (CAF 2)Combined Application Form part 2 (CAF 2)▪Determines your eligibility for a number of Determines your eligibility for a number of

programs such asprograms such as▪MFIP-S, medical assistance, food stamps. MFIP-S, medical assistance, food stamps.

Minnesota Supplemental AidMinnesota Supplemental Aid▪General AssistanceGeneral Assistance

Web site to online CAF Web site to online CAF applicationapplication

All states-linksAll states-links http://www.cbpp.org/1-14-04tanfhttp://www.cbpp.org/1-14-04tanf

.htm.htm MinnesotaMinnesota http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/mainhttp://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main

/groups/Economic_support/docu/groups/Economic_support/documents/pub/dhs_Economic_Suppments/pub/dhs_Economic_Support.hcsport.hcsp

MFIP Hypothetical ExerciseMFIP Hypothetical Exercise

MARIEMARIE

General Assistance Hypothetical General Assistance Hypothetical ExercisesExercises

JEREMYJEREMY

ELLENELLEN

Definitions of PovertyDefinitions of Poverty

➡ ➡ povertypoverty

➡ ➡ near povertynear poverty

➡ ➡ extreme povertyextreme poverty

Facts about PovertyFacts about Poverty

✧ ✧ For a family of 3, the federal poverty line is an For a family of 3, the federal poverty line is an annual household income of $17,600.00annual household income of $17,600.00

✧ ✧ The The extremeextreme poverty line is $8,800.00 for a poverty line is $8,800.00 for a family of 3family of 3

The Face of Childhood PovertyThe Face of Childhood Poverty

✧ ✧ 20% of children under age six live in 20% of children under age six live in povertypoverty

✧ ✧ 43% of all children under age six were 43% of all children under age six were LIVING IN OR NEAR POVERTYLIVING IN OR NEAR POVERTY

✧ ✧ In Minnesota, 10% of all children live in In Minnesota, 10% of all children live in povertypoverty

✧ ✧ In the US, 17% of all children live in In the US, 17% of all children live in povertypoverty

✧✧10% of American children lived in 10% of American children lived in EXTREME povertyEXTREME poverty

HomelessnessHomelessnessWilder Research Center2006 Research Report

▪At least 9,300 people were At least 9,300 people were precariously housed in Minnesotaprecariously housed in Minnesota

▪28% of the homeless adults are 28% of the homeless adults are working full or part-timeworking full or part-time

▪Average cost of a one-bedroom Average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in the Twin Cities area is apartment in the Twin Cities area is $ 707 and $858 for a two bedroom$ 707 and $858 for a two bedroom

106 people died while 106 people died while homeless in Minn. (2007)homeless in Minn. (2007)

▪104 people died while homeless in Minn. 104 people died while homeless in Minn. (2004)(2004)

▪126 people died while homeless in Minn. 126 people died while homeless in Minn. ▪The age range from infant to 82 years old-2003The age range from infant to 82 years old-2003▪73 people died while homeless in Minnesota in 73 people died while homeless in Minnesota in

19991999▪The ages range from 5 weeks to 84 years old.The ages range from 5 weeks to 84 years old.

continuedcontinued

▪85 people died while homeless in 85 people died while homeless in Minnesota in 2001Minnesota in 2001

▪The ages range from 3 months to The ages range from 3 months to 70 years old70 years old

Who are the homeless?Who are the homeless?25-40% work

37% are families with children37% are families with children▪The average age of a homeless person in the The average age of a homeless person in the

United States is NINE YEARS OLDUnited States is NINE YEARS OLD▪In Minnesota, 84% In Minnesota, 84% ▪25-30% have mental health impairments25-30% have mental health impairments▪30% are veterans30% are veterans▪50% homeless women and children have 50% homeless women and children have

experienced domestic violenceexperienced domestic violence▪Many are unaccompanied minorsMany are unaccompanied minors

Impact of Homelessness on ChildrenImpact of Homelessness on ChildrenIt takes an average of 4-6 months for a child to recover

academically from a change in schools.

▪66% of students who missed 20 or more 66% of students who missed 20 or more schoolschool

▪days during first, second and third days during first, second and third grade drop out of schoolgrade drop out of school

▪50% of all children in shelter show signs 50% of all children in shelter show signs of anxiety and depressionof anxiety and depression

▪10% of all elementary age school 10% of all elementary age school children in Minneapolis experience children in Minneapolis experience homelessness each yearhomelessness each year

Multiple Obstacles Families and Multiple Obstacles Families and Children Face While Living in PovertyChildren Face While Living in Poverty

CIRCLE OF POVERTY

▪Homeless TeensHomeless Teens▪Community and Family SupportCommunity and Family Support▪Domestic AbuseDomestic Abuse▪EducationEducation▪TransportationTransportation▪ConsumerConsumer▪HousingHousing

More ObstaclesMore Obstacles

▪Child CareChild Care▪Health Care-PhysicalHealth Care-Physical▪Health Care-MentalHealth Care-Mental▪Employment and TrainingEmployment and Training▪PersonalPersonal

What Needs to be Done for ChildrenWhat Needs to be Done for ChildrenFor Families:For Families:

▪Increase safety nets for families▪Affordable and safe housing

▪Affordable and safe child care▪Government benefit programs need

to be designed as anti-poverty programs

Needs for ParentsNeeds for Parents

Improved income levels through tax Improved income levels through tax credits and increased minimum credits and increased minimum wagewage

Reliable TransportationReliable Transportation Improved bus schedules to Improved bus schedules to

accommodate parents’ work accommodate parents’ work schedulesschedules

Provide programs where parents can Provide programs where parents can purchase reliable transportationpurchase reliable transportation

Availability of affordable auto Availability of affordable auto insuranceinsurance

Health Care Needs:Health Care Needs:

▪Health insurance for children and parents

▪Mental Health needs–More affordable mental health services available–Health plans should include increased coverage for mental health services–Decrease Stigma about mental health–Increase public education and awareness of mental health

Food and Nutrition

Food stamp levels should be increased to ensure proper nutrition to families and children

Increase the WIC program Increase funding to school lunch

programs

Educational Needs:Educational Needs:

▪Special Education needs to be fully funded and available

▪Need to establish ways that homeless children can continue in the same

schools even though the family may have to move several times

▪School programs should encourage family and community involvement to

help provide a support network for students and families

Welfare ReformWelfare Reform

▪In 1996, the Personal Responsibility and In 1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act passedWork Opportunity Act passed

▪Minnesota Family Investment ProgramMinnesota Family Investment Program▪MFIP-SMFIP-S▪5 year time limit-starting in July 19975 year time limit-starting in July 1997

Eligibility for Government Benefit Eligibility for Government Benefit ProgramProgram

▪Categorical EligibilityCategorical Eligibility▪For example, have a minor child for For example, have a minor child for ▪MFIP- SMFIP- S▪Financial EligibilityFinancial Eligibility▪IncomeIncome▪AssetsAssets

Government Benefit ProgramsGovernment Benefit ProgramsFor Families

▪MFIP-S-monthly cash assistance MFIP-S-monthly cash assistance program for familiesprogram for families

▪Food StampsFood Stamps▪Medical AssistanceMedical Assistance

Government Benefit Programs Government Benefit Programs

▪General AssistanceGeneral Assistance▪Food Stamps Food Stamps ▪General Assistance Medical General Assistance Medical

CoverageCoverage

▪For individual or couples For individual or couples without childrenwithout children

Government Benefit Programs for Government Benefit Programs for EmergenciesEmergencies

▪MFIP-Emergency AssistanceMFIP-Emergency Assistance▪Emergency General AssistanceEmergency General Assistance▪Emergency Minnesota Emergency Minnesota

Supplemental AssistanceSupplemental Assistance

What kinds of emergencies do these What kinds of emergencies do these programs cover?programs cover?

▪Mortgage foreclosureMortgage foreclosure▪EvictionEviction▪Damage depositDamage deposit▪First and last months rentFirst and last months rent

More EmergenciesMore Emergencies

▪Utility shut-offUtility shut-off▪Homeless shelterHomeless shelter▪Broken furnaceBroken furnace▪FireFire▪FloodFlood▪Other health and safety repairs on Other health and safety repairs on

the housethe house

Disability Programs through Social Disability Programs through Social Security AdministrationSecurity Administration

▪Supplemental Security Income Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI)Program (SSI)

▪Retirement, Survivors, Disability Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance (RSDI)Insurance (RSDI)

Low Income Families Who are WorkingLow Income Families Who are Working

▪May qualify for programs such as:May qualify for programs such as:▪Food stampsFood stamps▪Minnesota CareMinnesota Care▪Emergency AssistanceEmergency Assistance

Appeal RightsAppeal RightsClient has a right to appeal most unfavorable actions such as:

▪Termination of benefitsTermination of benefits▪Reduction of benefitsReduction of benefits▪Suspension of benefitsSuspension of benefits▪Delay in processing benefitsDelay in processing benefits▪SanctionsSanctions

Appeal Time linesAppeal Time lines

▪Vary by program Vary by program ▪Must move quickly to get continued benefits Must move quickly to get continued benefits

pending appealpending appeal

Clients may have many workersClients may have many workers

▪Financial workerFinancial worker▪Job counselorJob counselor▪Child care providerChild care provider▪Child care subsidy workerChild care subsidy worker▪School, special educationSchool, special education▪Court system: Social workers, Court system: Social workers,

Probation officersProbation officers▸Child protection workersChild protection workers