Transcript Understanding More About Poverty Monica Bogucki, B.S.W., J

Understanding More
About Poverty,
Monica Bogucki, B.S.W., J.D.
2013 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
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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, food stamps.
Minnesota Supplemental Aid
▪ General Assistance
▪
Web site to online CAF
application
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All states-links
http://www.cbpp.org/1-1404tanf.htm
Minnesota
http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main
/groups/Economic_support/docu
ments/pub/dhs_Economic_Supp
ort.hcsp
MFIP Hypothetical Exercise
MARIE
General Assistance Hypothetical
Exercises
JEREMY
ELLEN
Definitions of Poverty
➡ poverty
➡ near poverty
➡ extreme poverty
Facts about Poverty
✧ For a family of 3, the federal poverty line is an
annual household income of $19,530.00
✧ The extreme poverty line is $9,765.00 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 poverty
Children’s Defense Fund Poverty Fact Sheet
http://www.childrensdefense.org/child-research-datapublications/data/2011-child-poverty-in-america.pdf
Minnesota Poverty
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In Minnesota, 14 % of all
children live in poverty
In Minnesota, 31 % of children
live in low income families
Homelessness
Wilder Research Center
2009 Research Report
At least 9,654 people were
precariously housed in Minnesota
▪ 20% of the homeless adults are
working full or part-time
▪ Average cost of a one-bedroom
apartment in the Twin Cities area is
$ 707 and $873 for a two bedroom
▪
Wilder
Research Study, May 2011
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3900 homeless children per
night
50% of these children are 5
years old or younger
24% of the parents were
recently laid off
130 individuals died while
homeless in 2011, Minnesota
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126 individuals died in 2010
119 people died while homeless in 2009
134 people died while homeless in Minn.
(2008)
106 people died while homeless (2007)
104 people died while homeless (2004)
126 people died while homeless (2003)
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The age range from infant to 82 years old
continued
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85 people died while homeless (2001)
▪ The ages range from 3 months
to 70 years old
Who are the homeless?
The average age of a homeless person in the
United States is NINE YEARS OLD
▪ 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
▪
Impact of Homelessness on Children
It 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 school
▪ days during first, second and third grade drop
out of school
▪ 50% of all children in shelter show signs of
anxiety and depression
▪ 10% of all elementary age school children in
Minneapolis experience homelessness each year
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Multiple Obstacles Families and
Children Face While Living in Poverty
CIRCLE OF POVERTY
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Homeless Teens
Community and Family Support
Domestic Abuse
Education
Transportation
Consumer
Housing
More Obstacles
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Child Care
Health Care-Physical
Health Care-Mental
Employment and Training
Personal
What Needs to be Done for Children
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 Parents
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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
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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
▪ Minnesota Family Investment Program
▪ MFIP-S, Minn. Stat. 256J et. seq.
▪ 5 year time limit-starting in July 1997
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Eligibility for Government Benefit
Program
▪Categorical
Eligibility
For example, have a minor child for
MFIP- S
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▪Financial
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Eligibility
Income
Assets
Government Benefit Programs
For Families
MFIP-S-monthly cash assistance program for
families
▪ Food Stamps
▪ Medical Assistance
▪ EBT Cards link in Minn.
▪ http://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Legacy/D
HS-3315A-ENG
▪
Government Benefit Programs
▪For
individual or couples
without children
General Assistance
▪ Food Stamps
▪ General Assistance Medical
Coverage
▪
Government Benefit Programs for
Emergencies
MFIP-Emergency Assistance
▪ Emergency General Assistance
▪ Emergency Minnesota
Supplemental Assistance (effective
Nov. 1, 2011, refers applicants to
EGA.
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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
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Food Stamp Calculator
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Example:
http://www.ndhealth.gov/dhs/foo
dstampcalculator
www.fns.usda.gov
What kinds of emergencies do these
programs cover?
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Mortgage foreclosure
Eviction
Damage deposit
First and last months rent
More Emergencies
Utility shut-off
▪ Homeless shelter
▪ Broken furnace
▪ Fire
▪ Flood
▪ Other health and safety repairs on
the house
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Disability Programs through Social
Security Administration
Supplemental Security Income
Program (SSI)
▪ Retirement, Survivors, Disability
Insurance (RSDI)
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Low Income Families Who are Working
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May qualify for programs such as:
Food stamps
Minnesota Care
Emergency Assistance
Appeal Rights
Client has a right to appeal most unfavorable
actions such as:
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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
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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
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Child protection workers