safety net unravveling

[flowerseverywhere]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/167381/week-poverty-will-pennsylvania-rip-another-hole-safety-net

"If you’ve never heard of state-funded General Assistance (http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3603) (GA) programs, you’re hardly alone. A “safety net of last resort” for very poor people—often childless adults—who don’t qualify for other forms of public assistance, there aren’t too many of them still in existence. Not too long ago most states offered them, but in recent decades they have been eliminated or severely restricted. Now, only thirty states maintain GA programs, and the benefit level for most falls below one-quarter of the poverty line, or less than $2,750 per year."

another article from NPR

http://www.npr.org/2012/04/12/150492311/welfare-reforms-impact-on-americas-poorest?ft=1&f=1014

what will happen to all of these children (and families) who are affected by these decisions?

[Lainey]

I have also wondered what happens to these people? the ones who run out of eligibility for cash assistance, or unemployment checks, or turned down for disability, etc. Are they at homeless shelters, or sleeping on a relative's couch or in their cars, or what? I'm ashamed of this country saying we can't provide them even $200/month cash assistance.

There but for the grace of god go all of us.

[redfox]

Yes, they are our homeless brothers & sisters. The shame of this nation.

[flowerseverywhere]

There is a growing gap between the rich and the poor and I can see more and more people who have the potential to slide down the poverty slope. All of these people who have taken on massive debt for school, those who are upside down on houses, women and men who are raising children alone, people who have lost portions of their pensions they thought they could have the rest of their lives, someone who gets sick and racks up big medical bills. The list goes on and on of the casualties of our current economy.

[creaker]

"what will happen to all of these children (and families) who are affected by these decisions?"

Look at countries with minimal/no safety nets and it's not hard to figure out.

[HKPassey]

I live with this question every single day. What will happen when my unemployment runs out? Even if I find a job I can do, I've been (mostly) unemployed so long I'm virtually untouchable. What will I do if I get turned down again for SSDI? What if my son sells his house (I live in his garage at the moment) or has to take a pay cut? I've been trying to find out what benefits I qualify for: food stamps, maybe. A one-time free women's health screening. Other than that, I'm too young, too old, kids grown, too much education for benefits but not enough for the jobs, too disabled, not disabled enough, need too long term. Things may open up a bit when my unemployment finally runs out (my state is ending extended benefits altogether), but for the most part if you can't get onto SS disability, you can't get any local disability benefits either. And I'm stuck with a judge who keeps "shopping" for evidence and vocational expert opinions until she gets the answer she wants: "fully employable." (Since last October, now - in total it's been over 2-1/2 years now.)

Frankly, I'm terrified. Which, of course, simply pushes my ability to work farther down.

Even if I do get onto SSDI, having taken time off to raise my children, then working part time due to health and caring for a dying parent, has left my benefit so low I can't rent an apartment anywhere around here even if I spent 100% of my benefit on housing. Five year-plus waiting list for subsidized housing, which is prioritized to families anyway. Sucks, oh, yeah.

[flowerseverywhere]

HK I feel for you. I hope you the best and hope that your son continues to help you.

[bunnys]

HK--I most sincerely wish the best for you in the future.

[Spartana]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/167381/week-poverty-will-pennsylvania-rip-another-hole-safety-net

"If you’ve never heard of state-funded General Assistance (http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=3603) (GA) programs, you’re hardly alone. A “safety net of last resort” for very poor people—often childless adults—who don’t qualify for other forms of public assistance, there aren’t too many of them still in existence. Not too long ago most states offered them, but in recent decades they have been eliminated or severely restricted. Now, only thirty states maintain GA programs, and the benefit level for most falls below one-quarter of the poverty line, or less than $2,750 per year."

another article from NPR

http://www.npr.org/2012/04/12/150492311/welfare-reforms-impact-on-americas-poorest?ft=1&f=1014

what will happen to all of these children (and families) who are affected by these decisions?

This is the reason Mitt Romney ticked me off so bad when he said he (we, as a nation) don't need to worry about the poor because they have a safety net. Seriously? We have a net alright - one with big holes in it.

[flowerseverywhere]

and more today

http://news.yahoo.com/gop-cut-food-stamps-deficit-reduction-drive-152825160.html

"The cuts to food stamps would reduce the monthly benefit for a family of four by almost $60 and would force up to 3 million people off the program altogether by tightening eligibility."

I believe everyone who possibly can should work, but there are extenuating circumstances out there. Especially today with so many people underemployed and unemployed.

[loosechickens]

Exactly. I want a country run in a way where people like HK don't fall through those great big holes. Because they are certainly there, and I often find myself almost wishing that those who are so smug about all the "freeloaders" they seem to see among the unemployed or those down on their luck, could experience what millions of our fellow citizens are experiencing right now. One has a feeling that many of them would talk very differently, if THEY ran into the buzzsaw of this recession and lost a few limbs and found themselves bleeding to death.

I am so sorry, HK, for your predicament. Sadly, it is becoming all too common in recent years, where people who have never even needed that safety net they always assumed was there, suddenly need it, only to realize the thing is riddled with big, big holes, and they are falling right through.