Understanding More About Poverty,

Monica Bogucki, B.S.W., J.D. 2015 copyright Monica Bogucki

Where do you apply for government benefits?

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

Assistance▪County Social Service Agencies

What is a Combined Application Form?

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

programs such as▪MFIP-S, medical assistance, SNAP,

Minnesota Supplemental Aid▪General Assistance

Web site to online CAF application

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

htm Minnesota http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main

/groups/Economic_support/documents/pub/dhs_Economic_Support.hcsp

MFIP Hypothetical Exercise

MARIE

General Assistance Hypothetical Exercises

JEREMY

ELLEN

Definitions of Poverty

➡ poverty

➡ near poverty

➡ extreme poverty

Poverty Definition

Federal Poverty Guideline Published in the Federal

Register

Extreme Poverty Definition

50% of the Federal Poverty Guideline

Facts about Poverty

✧ For a family of 3, the federal poverty line is an annual household

income of $20,090.00

✧ The extreme poverty line is $10,045.00 for a family of 3

The Face of Childhood Poverty

✧ 25% of children under age six live in poverty ✧ 48% of all children under age six were LIVING IN OR NEAR

POVERTY ✧ In the US, 21% of all children live in poverty

✧10% of American children lived in EXTREME povertyChildren’s Defense Fund P

“Every fifth child (16.1 million) is poor, and every tenth child (7.1 million) is extremely poverty”, The State of American Children

by Children’s Defense Fund

http://www.childrensdefense.org/child-research-data-publications/data/2011-child-poverty-in-america.pdf

Minnesota Poverty

In Minnesota, 15 % of all children live in poverty

In Minnesota, 31 % of children live in single parent low income families

Kids Count report by Children’s Defense Fund

Wilder Research Study, May 2011

3900 homeless children per night

50% of these children are 5 years old or younger

24% of the parents were recently laid off

Who are the homeless?

▪37% are families with children▪25-42% work▪25-30% have mental health impairments▪30% are veterans▪50% homeless women and children have

experienced domestic violence▪Many are unaccompanied minors

▪National Coalition for the Homeless▪National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty

Impact of Homelessness on ChildrenIt takes an several months for a child to recover

academically from a change in schools.

▪Children with insecurity housing show increased signs of anxiety and depression.

Multiple Obstacles Families and Children Face While Living in Poverty

CIRCLE OF POVERTY

▪Homeless Teens▪Community and Family Support▪Domestic Abuse▪Education▪Transportation▪Consumer▪Housing

More Obstacles

▪Child Care▪Health Care-Physical▪Health Care-Mental▪Employment and Training▪Personal

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

Areas for Growth

Needs for Parents

Improved income levels through tax credits and increased minimum wage

Reliable Transportation Improved bus schedules to

accommodate parents’ work schedules

Provide programs where parents can purchase reliable transportation

Availability of affordable auto insurance

Living Wage

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:

▪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 Reform

▪In 1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act passed which created the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) federal level

▪Minnesota Family Investment Program▪MFIP-S, Minn. Stat. 256J et. seq. ▪5 year time limit-starting in July 1997

Eligibility for Government Benefit Program

▪Categorical Eligibility▪ For example, have a minor child for

MFIP- S▪Financial Eligibility

▪ Income▪ Assets

Government Benefit ProgramsFor Families

▪MFIP-S-monthly cash assistance program for families

▪SNAP/Food Stamps▪Medical Assistance▪EBT Cards link in Minn.▪http://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Legacy/

DHS-3315A-ENG

Government Benefit Programs

▪General Assistance▪SNAP/Food Stamps ▪General Assistance Medical

Coverage

▪ For individual or couples without children

Government Benefit Programs for Emergencies

▪MFIP-Emergency Assistance▪Emergency General Assistance

Poverty has indirect costs

Child poverty costs the nation at least $500 billion each year in extra education, health and

criminal justice costs and in lost productivity.

State of the Children by Children’s Defense Fund, 2014

Food Support or Food Stamps also known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

National http://www.cbpp.org Food Research and Action

Center http://www.frac.org

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-new name

\

Food Stamp Calculator

Example: http://www.ndhealth.gov/dhs/foo

dstampcalculator www.fns.usda.gov

What kinds of emergencies do these programs cover?

▪Mortgage foreclosure▪Eviction▪Damage deposit▪First and last months rent

▪Utility shut-off▪Homeless shelter▪Broken furnace▪Fire▪Flood▪Other health and safety repairs on

the house

Emergency Assistance

Disability Programs through Social Security Administration

▪Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI)

▪Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance (RSDI)

Low Income Families Who are Working

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

Appeal RightsClient has a right to appeal most unfavorable

actions such as:

▪Termination of benefits▪Reduction of benefits▪Suspension of benefits▪Delay in processing benefits▪Sanctions

Appeal Time lines

▪Vary by program▪Must move quickly to get continued

benefits pending appeal

Clients may have many workers

▪Financial worker▪Job counselor▪Child care provider▪Child care subsidy worker▪School, special education▪Court system: Social workers,

Probation officers▸Child protection workers