T A M M Y S M I T H

The Effectiveness of Government Policy in Aiding Impoverished

Americans

Confronting our own Biases about Toward Poverty

Understanding the negative stereotype of the “culture of poverty.”

Unequal wealth distribution means all citizens do not have access to equal opportunities for education and employment

.

Defining and Framing Poverty Poverty terminology: the official poverty statistics don’t include people in prison, foster children, people living in group homes or residential facilities.

Poverty rates don’t account for non-cash benefits which leads the public to undervalue the positive impacts of safety-net programs such as SNAP and housing vouchers.

Source: Ishiamastu, Josh (February 24, 2014). The Myths about Poverty are Keeping People Poor.

Poverty is simply not about lack of

income. Poverty carries implications of

deficits, shortcomings and judgments

that go beyond income.

The Occupy Movement popularized

income inequality.

Debunking Poverty Myths

The poor are not all drug addicts and alcoholics.

Poor people are not all lazy. In 2012, 10.5 million people in poverty were working poor.

Food stamps and other government assistance programs make people dependent.

Did you know that 4% of SNAP recipients only receive $16 a month and the average household gets $281 a month and the average individual gets $133 a month?

No one is quitting or refusing to get a job in order to receive $133 month to spend on food.

The Department of Labor predicts less than half of new jobs added by 2018 will pay enough to keep a 2 worker 2 child family out of poverty.

The Popularization of “The Welfare Queen”

Myth: Most women on welfare

keep on having babies to get

more benefits.

Fact: The average family on

welfare has 2.8 children. Only one

out of every 10 mothers on

welfare has more than 3 children.

Myth: Most people on welfare are

African Americans.

Fact: 38.8 % are Caucasians and

39.8% are African American, an

extremely narrow margin! Source:

Jaworski, Nichole. (July 2, 2013). Poverty in

America: Myths about Welfare Recipients.

. Term first used by Ronald Reagan.

No proof that the Chicago woman

who abused the system ever existed.

One Perspective About the Future of Welfare

The New Welfare

15% of Americans now use food stamps

(SNAP).

The SNAP Program is now often called

the new welfare.

According to New York Times, “ We

decided cash assistance is welfare and

bad, but decided food aid is nutritional

assistance and good, making it easier to

get on the food stamp program.

10X more Americans receive food aid

than cash welfare. “6 million people

have their only income from food

stamps.” -Peter Edelman “So Rich So

Poor: Why it’s So Hard to End Poverty in

America.

Welfare Reform1996:Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) replaces Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC).

#of TANF recipients has decreased by 60% over last 16 years.

1995 AFDC kept 62% of children out of deep poverty vs. TANF 21% in 2005.

TANF block grant frozen since 1996 so value has declined by over 30% in real terms.

Work participation discourages states from serving most needy families.

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The War on Poverty: 50 Years Later Welfare Records Hit

Record Levels.

Since President Lyndon Johnson announced the “War on Poverty,” poverty

levels remain unchanged.

More than $20 trillion spent, 5 decades later, no victory is in sight.

“Our current government programs offer only a partial solution. They help

people deal with poverty but they do not help them escape it.” Senator Mark

Rubio of Florida.

Dollars and Sense: Living on SSI

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program

providing monthly cash payments for people 65 or older,

blind or disabled persons of any age and children.

To qualify, one must have little or no income and resources

valuing less than $2,000.

SSI recipients are automatically enrolled in Medicaid.

Monthly SSI rate for a single person in New Jersey is

currently $725.25.

SSI payments differ by state.

SSI is different from Social Security Disability (SSD)

Managing on $725.25 a Month in New Jersey

Rent (assuming SSI recipient is fortunate enough to have Section 8 or similar housing assistance) 30-40% of income. $218.00

Cable: Triple Play $100

Transportation: Varies $25-$100

Food: (after SNAP benefits) $50-$75

Clothing

Other: Coffee, Cigarettes, Movies, Restaurants

Closing Song: Talkin’ bout a Revolution by Tracy Chapman