The latest county census data revealed that Michigan child poverty rate remains at 19%, and child and family advocacy groups say it’s time to raise the state Earned income tax credit (EITC).
Michigan residents are grappling with inflation, including high food and gas prices, rising child care costs, and other basic needs.
Monique Stanton, president and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy, said census numbers show now is an important time to put money in the hands of working families. She noted that almost every aspect of children’s lives improves when their parents are in a better financial position.
“The amount of tax credit you get increases with the number of children you have, and it’s also influenced by your particular income,” Stanton explained. “In Michigan, we have a federal credit rate of only 6%, that’s one of the lowest rates in the country. And we have the ability to raise the rate significantly.”
Stanton noted that lawmakers are the introduction of increases from 20% to 30%. She pointed out that children of color have higher poverty rates, about two to three times higher than white children, and that the EITC is a strategy to equitably reduce child poverty rates.
Matt Gillard, president and CEO of Michigan’s Children’s Group, acknowledged that the state had long struggled with high poverty rates for families with children, even before the pandemic. He said that because EITC money often goes directly back into the local economy, bipartisan groups of lawmakers and the business community are in favor.
“Putting that money back into the hands of working families dramatically improves their position and situation,” Gillard said. “And helps them cover the costs of raising children and helps improve the lives of those children, but also helps local economies.”
Studies have shown that greater access to the EITC leads to lower rates infant mortality, offsets some racial disparities in the tax system, and may even lead to higher incomes for children later in life.
It was shown at improve test resultsespecially for boys, children under 12, black and Latino children, and those whose parents are unmarried.
Disclosure: The Michigan League for Public Policy/KIDS COUNT contributes to our fund for reporting on policy and budget priorities, children’s issues, living wages/working families, and poverty issues. If you would like to help support
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Nursing home workers at a Washington state facility are asking their employer to raise their wages with money set aside in the Legislature’s budget for the purpose.
Members of Service Employees International Union Local 775 held an information picket Wednesday at Talbot’s Arcadia Medical Resort in Renton. The union said the facility does not use $48 million of lawmakers this year aiming to increase salaries in nursing homes.
Linda Long, a nursing assistant at the facility and a member of the union, spoke about the rally on the work to be done during the pandemic.
“A lot of our people have left the industry and gone to different professions because why work if you can’t get paid?” Long stressed. “You risk your life and they don’t make up for it.”
The information picket drew a crowd of workers, as well as Representative Mia Gregerson, D-SeaTac. Negotiations between workers and Talbot’s Arcadia Medical Resort are ongoing. The property did not return a request for comment by the deadline.
Long noted that the nursing home is often understaffed and people are overworked, which does a disservice to the residents living there.
“A lot of people live here and they need to know that this isn’t their only and last step in life,” Long said. “They need to be able to know that they can enjoy whatever time they have left.”
The union criticized the facility’s $18-an-hour proposal, saying it fell short of a living wage in King County, where the cost of living is high.
Disclosure: SEIU 775 contributes to our fund for reporting on policy and budget priorities, health issues, and living wages/working families. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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As senior graduates in Massachusetts and the United States carve out their immediate future, they are being reminded to make health insurance a priority.
Experts have pointed out that there is a range of options for college-aged students to consider.
Louise Norris, licensed broker and analyst for the website healthinsurance.org, said the Affordable Care Act has allowed more people to be covered as they transition into adulthood, primarily because people with dependents can remain on a parent’s insurance plan for up to 26 years.
What Norris calls “the invincibility factor” may still hamper those without cover right now.
“It’s always been a challenge to convince someone who is young and healthy that spending money on health insurance is worth it,” Norris explained. “And that was a problem before the ACA. It’s still a problem for some people, you know, depending on their situation.”
For low-income students, she said Medicaid could be an option. For those who stay on their parents’ plan but go to school in another state, restrictions on out-of-network providers could limit coverage.
Colleges and universities usually offer packages regulated by the ACA. Massachusetts law requires that for such plans, students must be enrolled in at least 75% of the program full-time.
Norris added that whichever option families choose, it’s best not to procrastinate and let gaps in coverage show up.
“If you choose not to enroll and a health issue arises, you cannot just go out and enroll in health insurance at that time,” Norris warned. “There are limited registration windows.”
Other analysts have noted that not being covered could lead to significant medical debt on top of tuition and other expenses. Norris pointed out that while some programs have limited enrollment windows, there are exceptions for people going through a transition, such as moving, and schools will communicate enrollment dates for their sponsored health plans.
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Homeowners in Ohio struggling to stay afloat due to the pandemic can get special help.
A report on the U.S. foreclosure market in April found that foreclosure filings were down 8% from Marchbut still 160% higher than at the same time in 2021. Ohio has the third highest rate, with foreclosure filing for 911 homes.
Shawn Smith, executive director of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, said the Save the Dream Ohio program can help eligible households facing foreclosure or struggling with other housing costs.
“A lot of people have either lost their jobs or lost their earning potential,” Smith explained. “And so have trouble paying their mortgage, property taxes, heating bill, electric bill, that sort of thing.”
Households can benefit from up to $25,000 to use over six months for overdue or future mortgage payments, and $10,000 is also available for eligible households to use to pay utility bills, property taxes unblocked and other qualifying accommodation costs.
The eligible income for the program is approximately $147,000 for a family of four. Smith noted that people can go to savethedream.ohiohome.org to find out more and apply, or contact a local partner.
“One of our partners on the utility assistance side is community action agencies,” Smith pointed out. “Go to our website where you will find a list of those who have partnered with us to provide helpful assistance. I would also encourage individuals to contact legal aid societies or housing counseling agencies if they have also difficulties in making these payments.”
The program uses $280 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and will run until September 2025 or until all available funds are exhausted. So far, mortgage assistance has been provided to over 2,300 households and utility assistance to approximately 2,200 households.
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