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Introduction to Benefit AccessIntroduction to Benefit AccessWorking Poor Families Project Policy AcademyWorking Poor Families Project Policy Academy

June 30, 2011

Elizabeth Lower-BaschElizabeth Lower-BaschSenior Policy AnalystSenior Policy Analyst

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TANF

SNAP (Food Stamps)

EITCHousing Vouchers

Child Care Subsidies

Child Support

Medicaid CHIPChild Tax Credit

WIC

SSIVeterans Benefits

Pell Grants

Social Security

Unemployment Insurance

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• Tuition, books and fees reflect only 1/3 of total annual cost of attendance for community college students when living and transportation costs are included

• College students have substantial unmet financial need even after financial aid (roughly $6,000/year)

• Financial aid generally not available for non-credit classes

• WIA rarely provides needs-based payment

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Unmet Need

Too much work

Failure to complete

Stress

Housing and food insecurity

Too little sleep

Part-time enrollment

Too little studying

Poor grades

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• Too many families don’t get benefits that they are eligible for.

• Childless adults not eligible for many programs• Applying is often time consuming, frustrating.• Programs are often run in “silos,” don’t look at

the needs of the person or family as a whole.

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• Social Security, Medicare• Children’s health insurance• Earned Income Tax Credit (for families)

Why high participation?• Entitlement• High levels of publicity/outreach• Broad eligibility• Intermediaries

tax preparers health care providers

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• TANF cash assistance• Child care subsidies• Housing assistance

Why low participation?• Capped funding• Child care and housing: capped enrollment • TANF: Stigma, burdensome requirements, and

time limits restrict participation

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• SNAP (food stamps)

• Health insurance for parents

• Pell grants (for students)

• WIC

• Unemployment insurance

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2008

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California – 50%Wyoming – 48%

Maine – 94%Oregon – 92%

National – 67%

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• Eligibility limits are very low in many states• Cost is shared between federal government and

states, and is a significant portion of state budgets

• Complicated rules determine eligibility.

• Change is coming…. 2014…

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Login Here

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No online application

Income limit for family of 3 is $424 per month

“health care for children, pregnant women, and people who are aging, blind and disabled”

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Note: Program participation among citizen children with family income below the poverty level and no reported health insurance. The data should be viewed with caution. Source: CBPP analysis of 2009 data from Survey of Income and Program Participation.

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Full time minimum wage worker ($7.25 an hour, 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year)

• Does not qualify for SNAP• Does not qualify for EITC

At poverty level ($10,830)• Pays ~$828 in payroll taxes• Gets ~$200 in EITC• Could get maybe $40 in SNAP benefits

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• Influence state policy and spending choices

• Influence state process and implementation choices

• Bring a cross-program perspective

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Image thanks to Shelley Waters Boots