Whether you are raising children in a single parent home, married and unemployed, educated or uneducated, there will come a time in your life when you will need to call for a health plan. In times of need, many Americans turn to the welfare system in order to gain access to basic needs; food, shelter, and medical care.
If you are in a situation where you receive assistance from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Earned Income Credit (EITC), Security Supplemental Income (SSI), or other government-based welfare programs, it’s important to know how many of these “work-based” programs determine your eligibility.
The “means test” is the most common method of determining “need” for a family seeking welfare. In many cases, SSI medical and health benefits are determined by status, but income and ability. employment is also a factor to be considered. In addition, your property is also considered with many families being denied utility benefits based simply on the value of the one vehicle the family owns.
Beyond SSI benefits, many American families turn to health programs to obtain food stamps. While benefits for food stamps have decreased in recent years, families with children continue to receive benefits in much the same way as the decline in those without children . Since the 1960s the US government has modeled food consumption and food expenditure, it is estimated that approximately one third of a household’s income is spent on household food. Determine the “need” for food based on your income and the “need” for food based on your assets and families< /a> size From this your need was calculated, measured against your ability to pay, and the food brands are authorized according to the difference of these figures.
To make the calculation a little simpler, the government, when deciding the “mean test”, will look at your gross income, the cost of child care< /a>, certain housing expenses and other necessary living expenses. From here, your expenses are deducted from your total assets, which includes your income plus any asset value above $2,000. If your net income is less than 100 percent of the poverty level, you may be eligible for food assistance.
The key to success qualifies for food as a lie, especially when “poor” falls well below poverty. plains Because the poverty level is a much-debated term, many families, especially those who have fallen into unemployment, find it very difficult to apply for and receive these benefits.
If you are sure that you meet the goals, the key to your well-being in order to receive some kind of support or benefit, is to ensure that your assets and expenses are well documented. While government programs are designed to help the needy, many needy families miss out on benefits due to a lack of proper documentation. As a result, the only other social services available may be through local non-professional organizations, churches and even religious groups. , who rely on almsgiving to help those who are unable to support the government.
