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This week at CBPP, we focused on food assistance, the new Census data released this week, poverty and inequality, and the economy.
- On food assistance, Stacy Dean, Zoë Neuberger, Dottie Rosenbaum, and our partners from the Food Research & Action Center detailed how congressional inaction amidst the COVID-19 health and economic crises exacerbates hardship. Dean, Rosenbaum, Lauren Hall, and Brynne Keith-Jennings expanded on how a SNAP benefit boost would get needed food aid to the poorest participants. We created a Pandemic EBT resource library containing resources related to P-EBT implementation for the 2019-2020 school year and profiles of how each state implemented P-EBT. We also updated our fact sheet explaining how states are using new flexibility in SNAP to respond to COVID-19 challenges.
- On the new Census data, Robert Greenstein, Arloc Sherman, and Matt Broaddus reported that the uninsured rate rose in 2019 but income and poverty data have been overtaken by the pandemic recession. Broaddus and Aviva Aron-Dine showed that the increase in the uninsured rate further eroded earlier progress. Cortney Sanders explained Census data showing that pre-pandemic economic gains were uneven across states and races. And Erik Gartland detailed why the 2019 income-rent gap underscores the need for rental assistance.
- On poverty and inequality, we updated our tracker of the COVID-19 recession’s effects on food, housing, and employment hardships.
- On the economy, Janne Huang noted there are just 30 days left to help eligible people claim stimulus payments. We also updated our backgrounder on how many weeks of unemployment compensation are available.
Chart of the Week — Progress on Health Coverage Is Eroding
A variety of news outlets featured CBPP’s work and experts this past week. Here are some of the highlights:
‘No excuse for inaction’: Experts urge Congress to extend program providing free school replacement meals for kids
CNBC
September 18, 2020
The College Money Crisis
New York Times
September 17, 2020
Uninsured rate rose again last year, ahead of the pandemic
Roll Call
September 16, 2020
Before COVID, the number of uninsured Americans grew by 2.3 million under Trump, analysis finds
USA Today
September 16, 2020
Incomes were up and poverty was down across America in 2019 — and then COVID-19 hit
The Philadelphia Inquirer
September 15, 2020
Medicaid rolls swell amid the pandemic’s historic job losses, straining state budgets
The Washington Post
September 14, 2020
Didn't receive a stimulus check? The IRS wants to help you.
NBC News
September 14, 2020
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