PathWays PA Policy Blog

Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) is back. The bill, aimed at preventing fraudulent applications for public benefits (including unemployment compensation) would require applicants to show identification when applying. The problem? While there is little to no evidence of such fraud, there is much evidence that SB 9 would slow benefits processing and prevent US citizens from receiving the benefits they have earned. One of the biggest problems with SB 9 is a problem of logistics. Pennsylvania, like the rest of the country, is facing high unemployment rates , currently reaching 8.1% (see yesterday’s post for a pictorial representation). In order to keep up with the increased rate of unemployment compensation requests, the state has bypassed its hiring freeze to bring on more workers to take phone calls. Unemployed workers can also apply online, but what they can’t do is apply in person – which is generally required when providing identification. SB 9 does say that identification can be provided by ma

Visit this Keystone Research Center blog posting and let their graphic speak for itself.

This week has seen many news headlines discussing legislation to ensure that people using public programs are not also on drugs. At least eight states are looking to require testing before people can receive TANF, food stamps, or even unemployment. In Pennsylvania, several representatives are looking to introduce legislation requiring testing for welfare recipients. So what’s the problem? The ACLU points out that drug testing of welfare recipients is flawed policy from three standpoints: Fiscally: The drug test itself averages around $42 per person, not including personnel costs. If costs are measured by the number of people “caught,” they could range from $20,000-$77,000 per person – much more than what is spent on the amount of benefits received (the TANF cash grant has not been increased since 1990 , when it was set at between $365 and $421 per month depending on the county a family resides in). Scientifically: Drug testing services note that tests don’t usually catch “ha

Berry Friesen’s post on the PA Health Access Network blog goes into much more detail, so please take a look. As he notes, a new report from Families USA, called “ Americans at Risk ”, shows that 2,845,000 Pennsylvanians under age 65 were uninsured for all or part of 2007-2008. Most of the uninsured (75.6%) were employed. Among the uninsured in Pennsylvania were 48% of all families who earn below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, or around $44,000 per year for a family of four. While we know that the number of uninsured in the US has been rising at an alarming rate, it is important to note that Pennsylvania has been hit especially hard. Between 2000 and 2004, Pennsylvania experienced the largest decrease in the number of adults covered by employer-sponsored insurance in the country . And while we know that the cost of insurance has been rising rapidly, what many people have not discussed is how that increase affects people living in the rural areas of our state. According to the Self-

As a part of Governor Rendell’s comprehensive plan to address the housing crisis in Pennsylvania, the state has implemented a number of new regulations for mortgage companies to prevent the kinds of opportunistic and irresponsible mortgage practices partially responsible for this foreclosure mess. The regulations went into effect last week, and are attached to some pretty hefty fines. Mortgage companies are now required to record the borrower’s income and fixed expenses, as well as proof of his or her employment. Equally important, mortgage companies are now required to provide the buyer with a simple, one page document outlining the details and caveats of their loans, including variable interest rates and prepayment penalties. Borrowers find themselves facing foreclosure for a variety of reasons. Some borrowers lose their jobs, and their unemployment payments are unable to keep pace with all their expenses, especially their mortgage payments. Others enter into contracts with lenders

While predatory lending is a year-round industry here in the US, the tax season is when the industry gains the most attention. Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) are advertised in office windows, on billboards, and even on sandwich boards worn by people walking through the streets. Yet these RALs, which offer a chance to get a quick refund, are nothing more than loans charging exorbitant interest, sometimes as high as 800%. Refund anticipation loans cost workers $900 million each year, while their more commonly used partner, the payday loan, cost $8.6 billion each year. Its time to stop predatory lending and start regulating the industry. T he National Community Tax Coalition is sponsoring a petition asking for Interest Rate Protections , Credit Card Protections , and Financial Product Protections . Sign on today to ensure less predatory lending tomorrow!

In Pennsylvania today, and across the country, we are constantly talking about the increasing numbers of unemployed workers. Workers are encouraged to take any job they can find, and often want to do so simply to bring in a paycheck. However, taking “any job” can come at a cost, especially to children. Unless workers can earn enough money to pay for childcare (and in Pennsylvania, the costs range from $800-$1600 per month to care for an infant and a preschooler), they must rely on a patchwork of friends and family, or unlicensed child care providers. If friends are called away or families have their own emergencies, the workers who rely on them might lose their pay, or even their jobs. When workers accept “any job,” they run the risk of not being able to afford keeping their children safe, even though they need to work to pay for food, heating, and housing. Pennsylvania offers a great program to help parents find and keep employment by subsidizing their childcare. The Child Care Works