A Universal Basic Income Would Set the Terms of a Progressive AgendaOn a recent Thursday night at the San Francisco Mint—a building that once housed one-third of the nation’s wealth—27-year-old Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs announced a bold, new plan to meet a critical need in his community: a guaranteed income pilot,… Nov 02 17November 02, 2017Article at New America
Republicans are bringing ‘welfare queen’ politics to the tax cut fightSen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) supports the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which saw its funding lapse Oct. 1, and said last week that “CHIP is having trouble . . . because we don’t have money anymore” due to spending on what he sees as less… Dec 08 17December 08, 2017Article at Washington Post
LePage Tries To Block Medicaid Expansion In Maine By Labeling It ‘Welfare’Aleta Sprague and Rachel Black's piece on the myth of the 'welfare queen' was referenced in Talking Points Memo: "'The right wing has successfully turned 'welfare' into an inflammatory word, going all the way back to Ronald Regan and his welfare… Aug 30 17August 30, 2017Article at New America
The Assault on Food Stamps Is MisguidediStock Last week in Arkansas, the state House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban the use of federal food stamps to purchase food with “insufficient nutritional value.” The sponsor of the bill, State Rep. Mary Bentley, argued that “I want… Feb 07 17February 07, 2017Article at Washington Monthly
The ‘Welfare Queen’ Is a LieAt a campaign rally in 1976, Ronald Reagan introduced the welfare queen into the public conversation about poverty: “She used 80 names, 30 addresses, 15 telephone numbers to collect food stamps, Social Security, veterans’ benefits for four… Sep 28 16September 28, 2016Article at The Atlantic
Dollars and CensureLast week concluded “Financial Capability Month,” an Obama administration effort affirming a national commitment to “equipping individuals with the knowledge and protections necessary to secure a stable financial future for themselves and their… May 05 16May 05, 2016Article at New America
Leveraging Public Assistance to Promote Financial InclusionIn a report out today, the Asset Building Program at New America argues that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)—the national welfare program designed to help move low-income families to employment and reduce dependency on the safety… Dec 07 15December 07, 2015Article at New America
What’s the matter with Kansas’s new TANF law? Almost everythingOn April 16, 2015, Kansas governor Sam Brownback signed into law an unprecedented set of restrictions on how the state’s most economically vulnerable families can access and use their monthly cash assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,… May 13 15May 13, 2015Article at Quartz
Less Money, More ProblemsKansas Governor Sam Brownback recently signed into law an unprecedented set of restrictions on how the state’s most economically vulnerable families can access and use their monthly cash assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF).… May 04 15May 04, 2015Article at Pacific Standard
Less Money, More ProblemsLast Thursday, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed into law an unprecedented set of restrictions on how the state’s most economically vulnerable families can access and use their monthly cash assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or… Apr 24 15April 24, 2015Article at New America
The Affordable Care Act and Asset Limits: What’s Left UndoneEditor’s Note: This blog post is the third and final installment in a series by Julianna Lord, Emerson National Hunger Fellow, looking at how the ACA has removed barriers and streamlined access to public assistance programs. Julianna’s previous posts… Aug 12 14August 12, 2014Article at New America
Poverty is Structural – So are SolutionsResearchers spend a lot of time trying to identify the root causes of poverty. But the perception of the public matters too—particularly due to the impact of these perceptions on political discourse (and vice versa). A new poll released this week… Jun 25 14June 25, 2014Article at New America
Vermont Takes on “The Poverty Trap”In the past few months, there’s been a lot of talk about “poverty traps” built into the social safety net. The term is most commonly used to refer to the issue of “benefit cliffs” in TANF and other programs – as families’ incomes go up, their… May 15 14May 15, 2014Article at New America
Recommended Standards for TANF Payment Card ContractsFamilies participating in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF/cash assistance) often must pay significant fees and surcharges to withdraw their benefits at an ATM. In California, fees charged to recipients of TANF and other… Apr 21 14April 21, 2014Article at New America
A New Welfare Law Sanctions The Worst Stereotypes About Poor FamiliesThe legislation translates tired clichés into real policy, by forcing states to prevent low-income residents from using their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards for transactions at casinos, liquor stores and “adult entertainment” establishments.… Feb 21 14February 21, 2014Article at Business Insider
As Farm Bill Moves Forward, Indiana Mulls Asset Limit ReformThis week, following months of negotiations, Congress is moving towards finalizing a Farm Bill, which will establish funding levels and eligibility criteria for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Food Stamps). Though it staves off… Jan 28 14January 28, 2014Article at New America
For Poor Consumers, Poor TechnologyThis week, we’ve seen a slew of pieces documenting technological barriers to accessing the safety net—and keeping specific benefits secure. As these pieces illustrate, technological glitches are widespread and have been a fixture of the public… Jan 09 14January 09, 2014Article at New America
Hello 2014, Goodbye Medicaid Asset LimitThe first day of 2014 marked the official first day of expanded insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act. This is a big deal. As Wonkblog notes, yesterday ushered in “the most significant change to our health-care system” in nearly fifty… Jan 02 14January 02, 2014Article at New America
In Poverty, No Privacy?Most Americans consider the right to privacy a right of citizenship, but for families within the public benefits system, ceding extensive personal and financial information and submitting to unannounced home visits, fingerprinting or drug testing are… Dec 16 13December 16, 2013Article at New America
Poor People Deserve Digital Privacy, TooFor centuries, political authorities have punished the poor for being poor. In colonial America, for example, “overseers of the poor” required the destitute to wear badges. Today, “overseers of the poor” are as much code—database queries to check… Dec 12 13December 12, 2013Article at Slate Magazine
Pennsylvania to “Rethink” SNAP Asset LimitThe Philadelphia Inquirer reported today that the state’s new Secretary of Public Welfare, Beverly Mackereth, has indicated she is “rethinking” Pennsylvania’s controversial asset limit for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Food… Oct 23 13October 23, 2013Article at New America
