Improving Economic Security for Los Angeles’ Poor Families

1. Improving Economic Securityfor Los Angeles’ Poor Families Neal S. Dudovitz, Executive Director Neighborhood Legal Services of LA County www.nls-la.org June 15,2011 MENDing Poverty Conference

2. Access Federally Funded Programs • GOAL: Get Money into the Hands of Poor Families without Creating New Programs or Breaking the Bank • Four under accessed federally funded programs: • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/ Food Stamps (in CA it is now CalFresh) • Unemployment Insurance Benefits • Earned Income Tax Credit • These Programs already exist-do not require new legislation • This Saves County Money that Can be Used for Other Benefits

3. Social Security Income Facts • Many Homeless, Mentally and Physically Disabled people face barriers in applying SSI, so they end up on General Relief (GR) • Monthly GR is $221-not enough to cover basic needs • SSI can provide up to $845 plus Medi-Cal coverage for health benefits • Moving 4,000 people from GR to SSI would save LA County $50 Million a year!!

4. Overcoming Barriers to SSI Barriers Solutions • Marshalling Medical Evidence • Completing Application • Chronic Homelessness • Mental Illness • Physical Disabilities • Lack of Legal Assistance • Training Doctors on Medical Record Requirements • Assistance with SSI Forms • Assistance in Gathering Medical Evidence • Pro Bono Assistance with SSI Application

5. SNAP/ Food Stamp Enrollment • In California only 48% of those eligible receive SNAP • In LA County only 40% of those eligible receive SNAP • Food Stamps stimulate the economy- every $1 of Food Stamps generates up to $1.84 for the local economy • If everyone eligible received SNAP in LA County it would generate $2.4 Billion in Economic Activity for the County

6. Increasing SNAP-Food Stamp Enrollment Barrier Solution • Face to Face Enrollment Requirement • Fingerprinting Requirement • Lengthy Application • Public Charge Concerns • Finger Print Legislation AB 6 Asm. Fuentes • Co-Location with County • Electronic Application • Screening clients for eligibility • Assist Farmers Markets use of EBT cards

7. Unemployment Insurance Benefits • Employees who are out of work, without fault, can receive Unemployment Insurance Benefits • Unemployment Benefits are funded by employers and the government and is administered by the State Employment Development Department

8. Unemployment Insurance Benefits Barrier Solution • Difficult to Understand Application Forms and Process • Denial and Limited Window to Appeal • Severe Delays in Appeals • Language Barriers • Lack of Legal Assistance • Education on UIB Application Process • Advocacy to Reduce Denials and Delay • Self Help Workshops • Language Access • Pro Bono Assistance with Appeals

9. Earned Income Tax Credit • Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is available to working people (single or married) with low to moderate incomes • If you make to little to owe income tax you can still obtain a refund or get a refund on what you paid • In 2009 256,449 eligible households in LA County did not file for EITC, costing approximately $370 in lost revenue • In 2009 California lost out in $1.4 Billion in Sales due to unclaimed EITC refunds

10. Earned Income Tax Credit Barrier Solution • Difficult to understand IRS Forms • Mailing costs • Digital Barrier • Language Barriers • Lack of knowledge about the program • EITC Clinics and Workshops • I-CAN system set up online • Education on using I-CAN • Providing access to computers and internet with volunteer assistance