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INCOME & WORK SUPPORTS UPDATE
APRIL 2020

Coronavirus: A Public Health Crisis That Threatens the Economic Security of Low-income People

The coronavirus outbreak is testing our health and public health systems, our national response to an economic slowdown and potential recession, and our government’s overall capacity to respond to a crisis. The outbreak is further exposing the weakness of our public policies on all three fronts when considering people with low incomes and people of color who have been most affected by the failures of the health system and the economy before the crisis. Please visit our COVID-19 response page to learn about how CLASP is actively engaged in advocating for policies as our country addresses this public health crisis.

Federal Court Ruling and Congress Ensure Food Aid Reaches People With Low Incomes During the Coronavirus Crisis

Even before the COVID-19 shutdowns, 700,000+ people were at risk of hunger due to a new federal SNAP rule. With the pandemic, it's clear that our social safety net is fragile and could force people deeper into poverty.

Coronavirus Bill Offers Relief to People With Low Incomes. Next Bill Must Do More, Include Immigrants.

The CARES Act is a significant improvement from an earlier Republican bill that failed to consider the needs of the most economically vulnerable workers and families. That said, it fails to meet the needs of all those impacted by the current crisis in many significant ways.

In the News

MARCH 4, 2020 | TIME

'If We Don't Work, We Don't Get Paid.' How the Coronavirus Is Exposing Inequality Among America's Workers

MARCH 5, 2020 | PARENTS

Childcare and Working Parents: The Juggle Is Real

MARCH 18, 2020 | GALLUP INDEPENDENT

Education Wins Big With Legislative Measures, Funding

MARCH 18, 2020 | AL JAZEERA

Coronavirus Raises Concerns About Lack of Paid Leave in the US

MARCH 21, 2020 | L.A. TIMES

Column: Coronavirus Will Hurt Us All. But It Will Be Worst for Those Who Have the Least

MARCH 22, 2020 | FORBES

As Chain Restaurants Ask for Government Bail-outs, Most Refuse to Bail Out Sick Hourly Employees

Key Blog Posts and Publications

MARCH 2, 2020 | ISHA WEERASINGHE

Clasp Comments on Patient Protection & ACA; HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters

CLASP submitted comments on the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed rule: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2021. We are concerned that the proposed administrative tasks included in the rule would not only cause coverage losses, but they will create unnecessary burdens for states. We encourage HHS to withdraw this proposal.

MARCH 11, 2020 | CLASP

COVID-19 Child Care Stimulus Request Letter to Congress

In light of COVID-19, CLASP and 35 other organizations sent a letter to Congress on child care stimulus package concerns to highlight the specific needs of child care and early learning programs operating in all states and across all settings.

MARCH 18, 2020 | HANNAH MATTHEWS & KATHERINE GALLAGHER ROBBINS

Policymaking Principles for Supporting Child Care and Early Education Through the Coronavirus Crisis

As families and communities grapple with the COVID-19 crisis, child care should be a front-and-center issue. Federal and state policymakers must move swiftly to respond to the growing child care crisis using these health care principles.

MARCH 19, 2020 | PARKER GILKESSON

CLASP’s State Recommendations for SNAP COVID-19 Response

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act prohibits states from terminating SNAP benefits under the three-month time limit for adults who are unemployed or underemployed and don’t have children or a documented disability. However, there is more that states need to do to ensure that people do not lose access to nutrition benefit.

MARCH 20, 2020 | SUZANNE WIKLE & RENATO ROCHA

CLASP Comments on the Healthy Indiana Plan

CLASP submitted comments in response to Indiana’s section 1115 demonstration project known as the Healthy Indiana Plan. If implemented the proposal would increase bureaucracy, decrease access to health insurance, and impose burdensome work-reporting requirements on Hoosiers. Given the economic crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic, such a proposal is particularly cruel and shortsighted.

MARCH 23, 2020 | OLIVIA GOLDEN

Federal Response to Coronavirus Public Health and Economic Crisis Must Prioritize People With Low Incomes

Any coronavirus response and economic stimulus package must focus on people with low incomes and communities of color because their needs are urgent. None of us can be safe and healthy unless all of us are.

MARCH 23, 2020 | SUZANNE WIKLE

10 Years of the Affordable Care Act – an Important Tool in the COVID Response

Ten years after Congress passed the ACA, COVID-19 highlights the importance of health care for our economic and physical wellbeing. Now more than ever, it's important to acknowledge and build on the successes of the ACA.

MARCH 27, 2020 | SUZANNE WIKLE

CLASP Comments on Missouri’s Targeted Benefits for Pregnant Women and Demonstration

CLASP supports Missouri’s waiver request to extend Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and mental health treatment to women who have a diagnosed SUD during the 60 days post-partum that they are covered by Medicaid. We believe that providing SUD treatment to new mothers will increase child outcomes and improve family stability.

MARCH 30, 2020 | DARREL THOMPSON

Trump Proposal Makes It Harder to Desegregate Neighborhoods, Slowing Necessary Progress

HUD has proposed a regulation that would effectively eliminate a 2015 policy known as the Assessment of Fair Housing. If implemented, the proposed rule would make it harder to desegregate communities and promote fair housing choice for people of color, people with disabilities, and other protected classes.

Sign up for COVID-19 response webinar!

APRIL 2, 2020 | 2:00 PM ET

Implications of COVID-19 Response Provisions and Public Benefits

Join the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) in a webinar to explore how income support provisions in the COVID-19 response legislation intersect with existing public benefits. The COVID-19 response legislation recently passed by Congress contains a new tax credit, unemployment insurance, and paid leave provisions. This webinar will discuss the implications of these programs on other benefit programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, TANF and child care. We’ll cover such topics as how the income from the COVID-19 response is treated for existing programs, what role state health and human services programs will have in the administration of the new programs, and whether people who receive COVID-19 response benefits will be connected with existing benefits. Sign up here!