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INCOME & WORK SUPPORTS UPDATE
AUGUST 2022
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Lifting Administrative Burdens to Advance Health and Racial Equity
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Policymakers and advocates have rightfully centered a great deal of effort in the past decade on expanding Medicaid eligibility in all states. However, we also need to ensure that those who are eligible can enroll and stay enrolled with ease. To achieve this goal, we must reduce and eliminate administrative burdens to enrolling in Medicaid, which disproportionately affect people of color. Advocates and state administrators can use this new report we co-authored with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities to help identify areas where their state is preventing eligible people from accessing Medicaid due to administrative roadblocks. Check out the full-length report here.
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| It’s Not Too Late to Claim Your Stimulus Payment: Eligibility Rules for People Previously Claimed as Dependents |
| During the COVID-19 public health crisis, Congress passed legislation that provided qualifying residents with three rounds of economic impact or stimulus payments. These one-time payments helped individuals afford essentials during the pandemic. If you were claimed by someone else as a dependent in 2020, but not in 2021, you can be eligible for the third stimulus payment of $1,400—even if someone received a payment on your behalf. However, if you are eligible, you’ll need to take action to actually get the payment. |
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| Five Ways State Agencies Can Support EBT Users at Risk of ‘Skimming’ |
| Skimming—a crime that can lead to somebody having their credit, debit, or EBT information stolen—is detrimental for people receiving SNAP and TANF who are living in poverty. They rely on their monthly benefits to access necessities like food and diapers, as well as to cover transportation costs. For parents, losing money through skimming means they will lack critical financial support to care for their families—through no fault of their own. While state agencies that oversee SNAP and TANF can’t prevent criminals from using skimming devices, agencies can support people enrolled in public benefit programs by following these recommendations. |
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IWS Update
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Like many of you, we have spent much of the past year following the devolution of the American Families Plan into Build Back Better, and now the Inflation Reduction Act. We are deeply disappointed that the package the Senate is now taking up omits many of the provisions we have been fighting for: from the enhanced Child Tax Credit to paid family and medical leave, child care, home- and community-based services, and closing the Medicaid coverage gap. At the same time, we recognize that the Inflation Reduction Act can help restore fairness to our tax system, reduce health care coverage costs, and slow the climate crisis, even as it falls far short of what is truly needed. In our statement, CLASP calls for Congress to pass the Inflation Reduction Act and immediately turn back to the unfinished business that will set our country on a more prosperous and equitable path. We will continue to look for opportunities to move our priorities, such as in a year-end tax extender bill, while also continuing to make the case for the more substantial supports that are still needed.
It seems like it was just days ago that we were welcoming Amira Iwuala as our Emerson National Hunger Fellow. She’s now finished up her fellowship, and we wish her the best of luck on her endeavors. She was a terrific support as we built out our relationship with the Community Partnership Group and also co-wrote a blog on “How White Supremacy Perpetuated Environmental Hazards in Communities of Color.” We encourage you all to give it a read!
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Recent Events
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On July 28, Indi Dutta-Gupta, CLASP’s president and executive director, testified to the U.S. Representatives Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth. Indi argued that a social protection system that works for all of us and provides economic security is the foundation for economic opportunity. You can read his full testimony or watch the full hearing here.
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