State budget cuts

The President's economic stimulus package

 

California faces a daunting budget shortfall, but solvency should not be restored on the backs of the state's elderly, disabled and children.

Shredding the safety net...

Cuts like the following will needlessly force millions of Californians deeper into poverty:

• Elimination of California's state food stamp program for legal, noncitizen immigrants.

• Ten percent cut to CalWORKS (state aid program to families) grants - to $651/ month for a family of three.

• Reduction of SSI* payments for those ineligible for other cash assistance to $674 from $870.

• Elimination of the "safety net" program for children whose parents have reached the 60-month time limit on cash assistance.

• Elimination of the Senior Brown Bag program, which provides food assistance to low-income elder San Franciscans and fills a critical need for poor seniors who are not eligible to receive food stamps.

 

...while preserving red tape

Even as these cuts are being considered, millions are being spent on wasteful administrative measures:

• Mandatory fingerprinting of every member of a household receiving food stamps

• Mandatory face-to-face interviews of food stamp recipients

• Quarterly (rather than semi-annual) change-of-income reporting requirements for food stamp recipients

Here's a sample letter opposing the cuts - send it to your state senators and assembly members today!

 

*Supplemental Security Insurance, a form of assistance available to those ineligible for Social Security payments

 

$4 billion in Food Stamps at stake

The House of Representatives passed a bill that includes $20 billion for the Food Stamp Program - that's gotten shaved down to $16 billion in the Senate version.

The majority of that funding will fund an increase in actual benefits: currently the average benefit is about $1 per meal per day.

$1.84 in economic activity is generated for every dollar that is invested in Food Stamps. With many low-income families struggling with hunger, this measure will both alleviate hunger and boost local economies.

 

Seniors and emergency food left out

Seniors living on as little as an $870/month are not eligible for Food Stamps*. Over 9,600 of these low-income seniors rely on CSFP, a monthly food box program that supplies them with nutritious basics.

Let's ensure that this vulnerable population is able to continue to receiving the food they need - no senior should be a casualty of the economic crisis.

Since 2007, we have seen need increase by 15%. Simultaneously, food donations from manufacturers have dropped.

Strong government investment in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is also essential. TEFAP provides staples such as rice, pasta and protein items to food banks so we can continue to meet the growing need.

 

What you can do
Call Senator Diane Feinstein at 202-224-3121 or 415-393-0707 and say:

“Please support the investments the House has made in Food Stamps and help ensure that seniors have enough to eat and food banks are able to meet the growing demand by providing an additional $30 million for CSFP and $300 million for TEFAP.”

 

*Seniors living on Supplemental Security Insurance, or SSI, are ineligible for Food Stamps. Monthly SSI payments max out at $870/month.