Exceptional Proff 530f
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530lesson6.docxIntroduction
Topics to be covered include:
· Poverty in the United States
· Education and poverty
· Types of welfare programs
· Issues surrounding welfare policy
· Social Security
· Types of Social Security benefits
· The Supplemental Security Income Benefits program
· Education policy
· Options for educational reform
· Higher education
In this lesson, we will start with a discussion on welfare and social security policy and then move to education policy. Before we can analyze welfare and social security policy, a foundational understanding of poverty is essential.
Poverty in the United States
Between 1970 and 2015, the poverty rate in America has varied between 10 and 15 percent of the population. During this same time, the population of the United States increased from 203 million to 320 million. The number of people in poverty has fallen slightly over the last few years ; it stood at approximately 43 million people or 13.5 percent of the population in 2015. In 2016 this rate fell to 12.7%. For more detail see Income and Poverty in the U.S . Poverty in the United States is defined as living below the government’s poverty threshold, which is adjusted periodically. The majority of those living in poverty include working people earning minimum wage, senior citizens living on fixed incomes, and workers who unexpectedly lose their jobs.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ECONOMY
One of the most significant factors contributing to poverty in the United States is the status of the economy. The national unemployment rate is directly related to poverty levels, and history has shown that as employment rates increase, poverty levels decrease as the result of more money being earned and distributed among citizens. Government programs also gain additional funding through taxes. Recessions have had a disproportionately negative impact on the poor due to a lack of wage raises that do not counter inflation. Every recession in the last 30 years has been accompanied by increased poverty rates.
Education and Poverty
Another noteworthy factor contributing to poverty is education. Unfortunately, low education rates are exacerbated by societal and demographic factors as well.
Please take some time to view this Ted Talk by Kandice Sumner. Do you agree with her assessment? What have you seen in your experience? She notes a few things that might be done to improve the situation. Can you think of others?
Types of Welfare Programs
For the millions of Americans living below the poverty line, hundreds of welfare programs have been instituted to provide help. All of the active programs designed to assist the poor are means-tested programs, which means that the recipient must meet an income test. In other words, eligibility is based on need rather than contributions that the person has made in the past.
Welfare, as it is known today, has its origins in the 1930s and the Great Depression. Amidst rampant unemployment and food shortages, an overwhelming number of families and individuals found themselves in need of aid. The federal government responded by creating a series of programs that provided assistance to those who had little or no income. For the next 61 years, the system remained largely unchanged. Complaints that the welfare program was being abused by those not seeking employment prompted calls for welfare reform. In 1996, Congress and President Bill Clinton passed a reform law giving control of the welfare system back to the states.
Let’s discuss some welfare programs.
· TANF
Today, the federal government provides assistance through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a block grant given to each state to run its own welfare program. To receive this grant, states must ensure that all welfare recipients must seek and find employment within two years of receiving aid (single parents included) or risk losing their benefits.
Take some time to review this Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report on TANF benefits and their decline.
· SNAP
· One of the best-known welfare programs in the United States today is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP’s benefits, formerly known as food stamps (now Electronic Benefit Cards), provide nutrition assistance to low-income individuals and families and can be used for a variety of foods. Take a look to see which foods are eligible and which are not. To be eligible for SNAP, household resources are also considered. For the most current eligibility , please click on the link.
· EITC
· A benefit offered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) . This tax credit is a benefit for working people with low to moderate income. To qualify, an individual must meet certain requirements and file a tax return. The EITC reduces the amount of tax an individual owes and may even provide them with a “refund” on taxes paid or unpaid. Consider the headlines as this is written at the end of 2017. Tax reform is being hotly debated. Stay tuned to the headlines to see if these credits stay the same or are changed.
· SECTION 8
The Housing Choice Voucher Program , sometimes called Section 8, is the primary federal program for assisting low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled in procuring safe housing in the private market rather than units in subsidized housing projects. Beneficiaries of this program are able to locate and choose their own single-family houses, townhouses and apartments. The beneficiary can live anywhere they wish as long as the home meets the requirements of the program. Public housing agencies (PHAs) administer Section 8 vouchers using federal funds that they receive from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Housing subsidies are paid directly to landlords, and the family pays the difference between the actual rent and the amount subsidized by the program. In some cases, these vouchers can also be used to purchase real estate.
Social Security
On June 8, 1934, in the midst of the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced his intention to provide a program for Social Security, which would address the problem of economic insecurity in the United States. Over a year later, President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law on August 14, 1935. In addition to several provisions for general welfare, the new Act created a social insurance program that would pay a continuing income to retired workers age 65 or older.
· SOCIAL SECURITY TODAY
Over 80 years later, Social Security remains the single largest federal government program. In 2012, the presidential budget request for Social Security was $800 billion. At one point or another, Social Security reaches virtually every American individual and family, rich or poor. This program helps older Americans, workers who become disabled, and families in which a spouse or parent dies. Today, about 167 million people work and pay Social Security taxes and about 59 million people receive monthly Social Security benefits. About 42 million of these beneficiaries are retirees and their families (Social Security Administration, 2017, p. 1).
· SOCIAL SECURITY AS RETIREMENT
However, Social Security was never meant to be a retired person’s sole source of income. Instead, Social Security replaces about 40 percent of an average wage earner’s income after they retire. The amount a person pays towards Social Security depends on their personal income and may be as high as $127,200. A self-employed person pays 12.4 percent of their annual income towards Social Security; an employee pays half that amount, with their employer paying the other half (Social Security Administration, 2017, pp. 2-3).
· As a person works and pays taxes, they earn one Social Security “credit” for each $1,300 in earnings, an amount that usually goes up each year. Workers can earn up to a maximum of four credits a year. Most people need 40 credits (10 years of work) to qualify for benefits, although younger people who become disabled require fewer credits to be eligible (Social Security Administration, 2017, p. 6).
· SOCIAL SECURITY FUNDS
Money paid towards Social Security while a person is working goes into a trust to pay those currently receiving it and not into a private account for that contributor to receive upon retirement. When a person works, 85 cents of every Social Security tax dollar they pay goes to the Social Security trust fund to pay monthly benefits to current retirees, their families, and their surviving spouses and children. The other 15 cents goes to a separate trust fund that pays benefits to people with disabilities and their families. From these trust funds, Social Security also pays the costs of managing the Social Security Administration. Less than one cent per dollar spent in Social Security taxes goes towards managing this program (Social Security Administration, 2017, pp. 3-4).
Types of Social Security Benefits
Social security benefits fall within five major categories: Retirement benefits, disability benefits, family benefits, survivor benefits, and Medicare Part A benefits.( Social Security Administration, 2017, p. 2).As a caveat to the general descriptions below there are many exceptions and qualifications that are not detailed here. Please consult with someone at the Social Security Administration to determine benefits for you specifically.
Retirement Benefits-If a person chooses to retire at full retirement age, they will receive their full benefit amount. Retiring before this age results in a reduced benefit amount. Full retirement age depends on the year a person was born. If a person was born in 1960 or later, that person will receive full benefits at age 67. People born between 1943 and 1959 are eligible at age 66, although in some cases they will become eligible at different points in their sixty-sixth year (Social Security Administration, 2017, p. 6).
Disability Benefits-If a person is unable to work due to a physical or mental condition that is either terminal or expected to last at least one year, they may be eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. Disability rules under Social Security are not the same as those that private or other government agency insurance plans may have. If a person becomes disabled, it may take several months (or even years) to process a disability claim. The Social Security Administration may request records, treatment dates, and other information from doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics, and caseworkers as well as laboratory and other test results, the names of medications the person is taking, and information about employers and job duties the person has had for the previous 15 years (Social Security Administration, 2017, p. 9).
Family Benefits-When a retired or disabled person begins receiving Social Security benefits, other family members may be eligible to receive payments as well. Benefits can be paid to a spouse who is 62 years old or older, or who is of any age if he or she is caring for the recipient’s child (provided the child is under 16 years old or disabled). Benefits can be paid to unmarried children who are under 18 years old, under 20 years old and attending secondary school full-time, or 18 or older and disabled (with a disability that was incurred before the age of 22) (Social Security Administration, 2017, pp. 10-11).
Survivor Benefits-If a worker has accumulated a certain number of credits within their lifetime and dies before receiving Social Security benefits, his or her surviving family members may be eligible to receive these benefits after death. Family members who can collect benefits include a widow or widower who is over 60 years old, over 50 years old and also disabled, or any age if caring for a young or disabled child. Children of deceased workers can also receive benefits if they meet the same requirements as for family eligibility (Social Security Administration 2017, p. 12).
Medicare Part A Benefits-Medicare, which was discussed at length in Lesson 5, is the nation’s basic health insurance program for people age 65 or older and for many people with disabilities. Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) helps pay for inpatient hospital care and some follow-up services. Most people receive Medicare Part A after turning 65 years of age and qualify for it automatically after becoming eligible for Social Security benefits. A beneficiary also qualifies for Medicare Part A after receiving Social Security disability benefits for 24 months. A few exceptions include beneficiaries suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), who do not have to wait 24 months to qualify, or people with permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis provided they have accumulated enough credits (Social Security Administration, 2017, pp.7-17-22).
The Supplemental Security Income Benefits Program
A lesser-known program, the Supplemental Security Income Benefits Program (SSI), is managed by the Social Security Administration (Social Security Administration, 2017) but is not funded through Social Security taxes. U.S. Treasury general funds pay for SSI benefits, not Social Security trust funds. People with low income and few resources who are age 65 or older, blind, or disabled can receive monthly payments through SSI. Disabled or blind children whose parents have little income or resources may be eligible for SSI benefits as well. The basic SSI amount is the same nationwide, although many states add additional funds to the basic benefit (Supplementary Security Income, 2017).
A person’s income and resources determine whether they are eligible to receive SSI. The Social Security Administration does not count a person’s entire income when deciding whether he or she qualifies for SSI. Income not counted includes the first $20 a month of total income, the first $65 a month the person earn from working and half the amount over that, and any SNAP benefits, shelter received from private non-profit organizations, and most home energy assistance. If a beneficiary is married, part of his or her spouse’s income and resources are included in this determination, as is part of his or her parents’ income and resources if the person is under 18. A student’s wages or scholarships may not count as well. In terms of resources, a beneficiary’s home, car, and burial plots are usually not counted to determine eligibility. (Supplementary Security Income, 2017, pp.2-3).
People who live in city or county rest homes, halfway houses, jails, or prisons usually are ineligible for SSI, as are people with felony or arrest warrants. However, there are a few instances where those living in certain types of institutions can qualify for SSI. Among those potentially eligible are residents of publicly operated community residences, public institutions where educational or job training is received, public emergency shelters for the homeless, public or private institutions where Medicaid is paying more than half the cost of the individual’s care. (Supplementary Security Income, 2017, p. 4). Again, please remember these are general guidelines and may not apply to your particular circumstance or may change over time. Consult the Social Security Administration with your specific questions.
Education Policy
Why is the government involved in education at all? Thomas Jefferson, one of the earliest advocates for public education, wrote that
“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be” (Jefferson, 1816).
Education provides an emphasis on governance at the state and local levels, helping people remain informed. It also assists immigrants with social integration and assimilation. Most importantly, education is the prime driver for social mobility. It provides people with the greatest opportunities to increase their social and economic status.
As far as elementary and secondary education is concerned, the federal government in recent decades has enacted several major policies.
· ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT (ESEA)
The first significant policy was the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. A cornerstone of President Johnson’s War on Poverty, this law represented a landmark commitment to equal access to quality education. This extensive statute funds primary and secondary education, and emphasizes high standards and accountability. It authorizes funds for professional development, instructional materials, and resources to support educational programs. Since its enactment, the federal government has reauthorized the act every five years (The Social Welfare History Project, 2016).
· NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT
In 2002, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act. This law reauthorized and supplemented the ESEA, requiring testing for students in reading and math with the expectations of reaching state standards universally within 12 years. The law’s major focus was to close student achievement gaps by providing all children with a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education (Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2011).
· RACE TO THE TOP
President Barack Obama instituted the Race to the Top program in 2009. This initiative offered incentives to states willing to adapt reforms such as rigorous standards, improved assessments, better data systems, and emphasis on interventions in low-performing schools. Race to the Top encouraged states to pursue higher standards, improve teacher effectiveness, use data effectively in the classroom, and adopt new strategies. Nineteen states serving 22 million students and employing 1.5 million teachers in 42,000 schools have received over $4 billion in incentives under this program (Office of President Barack Obama).
· COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS INITIATIVE
The Common Core State Standards Initiative is an educational initiative in the United States that details the understanding and competencies that elementary and secondary school students should possess by the end of each grade in math and English. The National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) sponsored this 2009 initiative to establish consistent educational standards across the country. Common Core has remained controversial for many reasons; some argue that it takes states’ power to make education policy away, while others complain about the nature of the standards (particularly its new method of teaching math).
Options for Educational Reform
Issues such as merit pay, teacher standards, teacher salaries, school choice, and student testing remain in the forefront of educational reform today. Let’s take a closer look at a few of these issues.
TEACHER SALARIES
The Teacher Advancement Program (TAP), launched by the Milken Family Foundation in 1999, has proposed a model for performance-based compensation for teachers. A trademark of TAP is that it ties salaries and bonuses received by educators to their instructional performance and growth in student achievement. This model has received criticism from those who believe it will create competition and discourage teachers from working with challenging students. However, the model is still discussed but has morphed into the System for Teacher and Student Advancement. Click for a comprehensive report .
SCHOOL CHOICE
School choice has been another issue in educational policy. Traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and homeschooling are among the options that are available in elementary and secondary education. Some parents choose to send their children to private schools, but still have to pay taxes to support those in public schools as well as their own children’s tuition. Supporters of school choice argue that since every child is unique, one type of school does not fit all, and parents should be able to choose the educational environment that their children will thrive in without having to worry about economic concerns.
STUDENT TESTING
Another issue is student testing. With the enactment of Common Core and other standards-based initiatives that require students to maintain a certain competency in school subjects, methods for testing this competency’s attainment must be employed. Many teachers and schools have placed a large emphasis on preparing for these tests, with test preparation activities alone sometimes absorbing weeks out of each school year. Parents, teachers, and students alike question whether these tests truly measure competency, or if their administration is the best means for educating children.
Higher Education
College and university education has also been a matter of educational policy on the federal level.
Morrill Act-The Morrill Act, passed in 1862, was the first major legislation regarding public institutions. Also called the Land Grant Act, this law that provided grants of land to states to finance the establishment of colleges specializing in agriculture and the mechanic arts. Today, many of the universities established by this act are still operating, with most of them focusing on majors such as natural sciences and engineering. They include Purdue University in Indiana, Cornell University in New York, and Texas A&M University.
GI Bill-The Serviceman’s Readjustment Act, better known as the GI Bill, was passed in 1944 to help soldiers returning from World War II readjust to civilian life. This law included educational provisions, providing tuition, subsistence, books and supplies, equipment, and counseling services for veterans to continue their education in school or college (Servicemen's Readjustment Act, 1944).
Conclusion
To see the current programs that policy-makers created, this lesson started with identifying poverty as a social problem. Then, we covered public policies developed to deal with the problem over time, to include welfare programs for those in poverty, and education programs to help people overcome poverty.
References
Floyd, I. (2017). TANF Cash Benefits Have Fallen by More Than 20 Percent in Most States and Continue to Erode. Retrieved from https://www.cbpp.org/research/family-income-support/tanf-cash-benefits-have-fallen-by-more-than-20-percent-in-most-states
Internal Revenue Service. (2017). Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit.
Office of President Barack Obama. (2012). Race to the Top. Retrieved from https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/issues/education/k-12/race-to-the-top.
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. (2011). No Child Left Behind Act. State of Washington. Retrieved from http://www.k12.wa.us/esea/NCLB.aspx.
Social Security Administration. (2017). Understanding the Benefits. Retrieved from https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10024.pdf.
Social Security Administration. (2017). Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Retrieved from https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-11000.pdf.
Servicemen's Readjustment Act (1944). Retrieved from https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=76
Thomas Jefferson, The Works of Thomas Jefferson, Federal Edition (New York and London, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904-5). Vol. 11. Retrieved from http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/807
Social Welfare History Project (2016). Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Social Welfare History Project. Retrieved from http://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/education/elementary-and-secondary-education-act-of-1965/
Sumner, Kandice. (2015). Kandice Sumner at TEDxBeaconStreet How America's public schools keep kids in poverty. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/kandice_sumner_how_america_s_public_schools_keep_kids_in_poverty?language=en
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). (2017). Am I Eligible for SNAP? Retrieved from https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligibility
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). (2017). Retrieved from https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items
TAP ™ : The System for Teacher and Student Advancement. (2015). Teacher Training, Evaluation, and Compensation. Retrieved from https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Docs/InterventionReports/wwc_tap_072815.pdf
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) . (2017). Retrieved from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/programs/tanf
US Census Bureau (2017) Income and Poverty in the United States (2016). Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2017/demo/p60-259.html .
U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2017). Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Food and Nutrition Service. Retrieved from https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (n.d.). Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/housing_choice_voucher_program_section_8.
