Posted on 12/01/2023 10:00:02 PM PST by RandFan
Destitution - it's a word almost from another age, conjuring visions of desperate, grinding poverty. But it is a fact of life right now , for increasing numbers of people, according to new research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation thinktank.
In a joint study with Heriot-Watt University, they found that 3.8 million people - a million of them children - experienced destitution last year defined as being unable to meet some of the most basic needs - staying dry, clean, warm and fed.
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
Look what's happening. Even the immigrants get treated better than this
Feeling a bit that way paying 34 dollars for a large pack of toilet paper and 18 for a crappy pot roast. Fixed income stays pretty much the same.
What’s pricey in the UK is gas/electric/bills I’m not surprised to hear these stories.
They’re literally tripling bills. It’s incredible and difficult to absorb.
You actually read the article? Pretty sure that will get you zotted!
Feeling that way after turning the heat in the house down to save heating oil.
Thanks Biden... Go Branden!
They are running out of other people’s money.
Fortunately, he’s in Britain. It’s almost t-shirt weather to the Albertan year-round.
However, running out of other people’s is coming to Canada as well.
What’s pricey in the UK is gas/electric/bills I’m not surprised to hear these stories.
They’re literally tripling bills. It’s incredible and difficult to absorb.
***************
My best friend has bunch of relatives in the UK, because his mother is a British national who has been married to an American since the 1960’s.(Thank God, she can’t vote because she seems like a lefty)
He was over there last year, and noticed energy, transportation, real estate were relatively high, but food was surprisingly lower than in the states.
He said that was odd compared to past visits.
A sure sign that the Socialists have run out of other people’s money is when the inflation tax kicks into high gear.
Bkmk
Brexit? Did this happen before this?
The fact is hat while the constant cry of the Left is that "there is no justice," that their more reliable voter base are victims of injustice, not being treated fairly (which actually was the tactic the devil used on Eve, and which victim-entitlement mentality is what the Left inculcates in order to obtain power as supposed saviors), and that 25% of Americans are "food insecure'" and that millions "face hunger" every day (as we all do), the fact is that we live in an era with the highest standard of living ever known to man. Even worldwide, people are materially better off than generations past.
Yet prosperity is a test, and due to the deceptiveness of this then spiritual and family values overall decrease. Leading to ruin unless the country realizes a revival of evangelical faith.
93% of households in the U.S. had access to at least one car in 2019 (Federal Highway Administration).
The average American household owns at least two cars. (Statistica)
In 2016, only 20% of low-income adults reported having no access to a personal vehicle. - https://www.thezebra.com/resources/research/car-ownership-statistics/
80% of low-come households in the United States owned a flat screen TV in 2022 https://www.statista.com/statistics/663668/affluent-americans-who-owned-a-flat-lcd-led-oled-or-plasma-screen-tv/
The vast majority of Americans – 97% – now own a cellphone of some kind. The share of Americans that own a smartphone is now 85%
97% households in the United States with Less than $30,000 income own a cell phone, and 76% have a smart phone - https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/mobile/?tabId=tab-011fca0d-9756-4f48-b352-d58f343696bf
RENT - If you are "low-income" there are Subsidized Apartments. HUD helps apartment owners offer reduced rents to low-income tenants. To apply, contact or visit the management office of each apartment building that interests you.
And Public Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) To apply for either type of help, visit your local Public Housing Agency (PHA).
INSURANCE - Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide free or low-cost health coverage to some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created government subsidies to help low- and middle-income people pay for health insurance. Medicare Part B is only free if you have a low income and are enrolled in one of the Medicare Savings Programs for financial assistance.
PROPERTY TAX - low income usually are renters, while A tool used in a number of jurisdictions for mitigating these effects on those with limited incomes is the property tax “circuit breaker,” which caps the amount of property tax that homeowners have to pay as a share of their income, much like the electric circuit breaker which provides protection against overloading an electrical system. - https://localhousingsolutions.org/housing-policy-library/property-tax-relief-for-income-qualified-homeowners/
Community health centers may offer prescription assistance to low-income patients.
You might qualify for free medicines (or low-cost ones) if: You don’t have health insurance. You don’t have enough health insurance to afford them. The drugs you need aren't covered by your insurance.
Medicare Part D provides drug coverage. The Extra Help program helps with the cost of your prescription drugs, like deductibles and copays. How to Get Low-Cost or Free Prescriptions
Certainly health costs are a problem, but the purpose of the article was to show that the Left works to increase and keep people dependent on the gov., meaning liberals, thus keeping them in power. For instance:
In 2017, Congress enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which expanded the existing Child Tax Credit program into a generous credit for millions of Americans Congress has pumped nearly $5 trillion taxpayer dollars into COVID-19 “relief” spending. The food stamp program has also been modified under the guise of COVID-19 relief. Beginning with the passage of the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA), the federal government suspended the work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents in the program For millions of people, staying home still pays better than returning to work. - https://thefga.org/research/expanded-welfare-keeping-americans-from-working/
Reading “200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines” promoted me to investigate that first, and which means, for instance, that while for a household of three the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) would be $21,960 yet 200% of the FPL would be $43,920 (compared with $29,646 last year), and would qualify that household for $30 a month discount for high-speed Internet and “eligible households also can receive a onetime discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet from participating providers if the consumer contributes $10 to $50 toward the purchase price.” “The $14.2 billion Affordable Connectivity Program is just a part of roughly $65 billion to improve access to high-quality, high-speed internet access contained in the bipartisan infrastructure bill that President Joe Biden signed into law Nov. 15.” (https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2021/fcc-subsidy-helps-broadband-internet-access.html)
However, as reported here, the official poverty measure is based on cash income only, which fails to capture all the resources available to a family including tax credits and in-kind transfers. Also, the official measure of family resources is biased due to under-reporting of certain types of income that are commonly received by those with low reported income.
What are Federal Poverty Guidelines/Levels (FPL)?
The Federal Poverty Guidelines are federally set “poverty lines” that indicate the minimum amount of annual income that an individual / family needs to pay for essentials, such as housing, utilities, clothing, food, and transportation. These guidelines, also called Federal Poverty Levels (FPLs), are based on the size of a household and the state in which one resides. FPLs are the same in 48 of the 50 states. The two exceptions are Alaska and Hawaii, which have higher Federal Poverty Levels due to the higher cost of living. As an example, in 2021, the annual FPL for an individual in Alaska is $16,090, in Hawaii it is $14,820, and in the remainder of the states it is $12,880...
The exact percentage of the FPL used for eligibility purposes varies based on the program and the state...
# of Persons in Household | 2021 Federal Poverty Level for the 48 Contiguous States (Annual Income) | ||||||
100% | 133% | 138% | 150% | 200% | 300% | 400% | |
1 | $12,880 | $17,130 | $17,774 | $19,320 | $25,760 | $38,640 | $51,520 |
2 | $17,420 | $23,169 | $24,040 | $26,130 | $34,840 | $52,260 | $69,680 |
3 | $21,960 | $29,207 | $30,305 | $32,940 | $43,920 | $65,880 | $87,840 |
4 | $26,500 | $35,245 | $36,570 | $39,750 | $53,000 | $79,500 | $106,000 |
5 | $31,040 | $41,283 | $42,835 | $46,560 | $62,080 | $93,120 | $124,160 |
6 | $35,580 | $47,321 | $49,100 | $53,370 | $71,160 | $106,740 | $142,320 |
7 | $40,120 | $53,360 | $55,366 | $60,180 | $80,240 | $120,360 | $160,480 |
8 | $44,660 | $59,398 | $61,631 | $66,990 | $89,320 | $133,980 | $178,640 |
Add $4,540 for each person in household over 8 persons | |||||||
The Federal Benefit Rate, abbreviated as FBR, is the maximum amount to which an aged, blind or disabled person who qualifies for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is able to receive in monthly cash benefits. In 2021, the maximum FBR is $794 for a single individual and $1,191 for a married couple...(https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/federal-poverty-guidelines)
What programs use FPL guidelines?
Several programs use either 100% of the poverty guidelines or a percentage multiple of the guidelines. For example, some programs use 125%, 150%, or 185% of the guidelines to determine eligibility. (https://www.medicareplanfinder.com/medicare/federal-poverty-level/#What-programs-use-FPL-guidelines)
[AT LEAST 30 PROGRAMS USE THE FPL.]
Some examples of federal programs that use the poverty guidelines in determining eligibility include the following:
Department of Health and Human Services: Community Services Block Grant, Head Start, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance
Department of Agriculture: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamp Program), National School Lunch Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program
Department of Energy: Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons Federal Poverty Levels do not count Noncash benefits (e.g. food stamps and housing subsidies)
Department of Labor: Job Corps, National Farmworker Jobs Program, Workforce Investment Act Youth Activities (https://www.irp.wisc.edu/resources/what-are-poverty-thresholds-and-poverty-guidelines/)
Examples of Automotive Help Programs
New Car Program for Those in Need
Bad Credit Auto Loans
Extended Auto Warranties
Job Access and Reverse Commute
Disability Transportation
{https://reliefbenefits.com/government-assistance)
What income is not counted? [for SNAP benefits]
You must meet the SNAP income tests to get SNAP benefits. There is no asset test for most Massachusetts households....
Here are examples of income that does not count for SNAP:
VISTA, Youthbuild, AmeriCorps, and Foster Grandparent allowances, earnings, or payments for persons otherwise eligible.
U.S. temporary Census earnings, for the 2020 Census count.
Lump sum payments...
Reimbursements – money you get to pay you back for expenses,.
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)...
Anything you do not get as cash... paid directly to a landlord or utility company...that has no legal obligation to do so....
Veterans Services (M.G.L. c 115) payments made by vendor payment directly to your landlord or utility company.
Money earned by a child under age 18 who..lives with a parent or other responsible adult.
Much more: https://www.masslegalhelp.org/income-benefits/food-stamps/advocacy-guide/part3/q69-income-not-counted; Produced by Patricia Baker and Victoria Negus, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute Reviewed January 2020
[Below are some more benefit programs and services, but which also include local, state and federal programs as well as some private organizations.]
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OR FINANCIAL HELP FROM LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS...
Government mortgage and foreclosure assistance is available...
Rent help from assistance programs is available from a number of sources.
Government mortgage and foreclosure assistance...
Rent help from assistance programs i..
a variety of additional low income assistance programs ..
Housing Choice Voucher Program...
Disability assistance is administered by most state governments..
Human or social service offices ...
Financial assistance from your utility company may be available...
Telephone assistance programs..
Water bill assistance programs..
Federal government grants are provided to states and local governments as part of low income energy (LIHEAP)...
Free weatherization programs are also available nationwide...
Medical bill assistance..
Prescription drug assistance programs ..
Government funded community clinics..
Find dental care from free clinics...Many accept both state or federal government assistance and public health insurance for payment..
Free government health care programs..
Government sponsored welfare programs are available nationally as well as locally....
Free food from assistance programs are offered by the state as well as federal government...
Charities, churches and other organizations that offer financial assistance or small amounts of money from the government can sometimes help you with paying bills or debts...
Older adults and senior citizens.. There are government funded agencies that focus on their needs..
Several federal government agencies are focused on supporting people and helping them find a job or gain new skills. ..
Day and child care assistance is available in all states.... Government child care vouchers and subsidies can be obtained
State & Local Resources[;] Rent Assistance[;]
Free Food Pantries[;] Utility Bill Help[;]
Free Stuff and Money[;] Extra Income and Home Work;
Public Assistance[;] Disability Programs[;] Section 8 Housing[;] Senior Assistance[;] Emergency Rent Assistance[;] Free Job Training[;] Free Money[;] Grants For Bills[;] Free Clothes & Supplies[;] LIHEAP Assistance[;] elephone Assistance[;] Help with Water Bills[;] Charity Assistance[;] Church Assistance[;] Community Action Agencies[;] Medical Bills[;] Free Healthcare[;] Free Prescriptions[;] Free Community Clinics[;] Free Dental Clinics[;] Loans For Bills[;] Automobile Loan Assistance[;] Free Cash Loans[;] Debt Help[;] Mortgage Help[;] ...
How much CASH assistance will I get?The amount of cash assistance available in each state listed below varies...the dollar amounts will always change from year to year... 8 highest vs. 8 lowest I found]
Alaska $923; New York $789; California $704; Connecticut $698; New Hampshire $675; Wisconsin $653; Massachusetts $618; Hawaii $610';
Mississippi $170; Tennessee $185; Alabama $215; Arkansas $204; Louisiana $240; Kentucky $262; Georgia $280; Texas $285 (https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/how_much_cash_assistance.html)
Paying For Child Care
Child care subsidies (also called vouchers and fee assistance):
Head Start and Early Head Start:
State-funded prekindergarten:
Military fee assistance programs:
Assistance for high school students:
College or university child care:
Employer-assisted dependent care:
Other employer resources:
Sliding fee scale:
Local assistance and scholarships:
Sibling discount:
Military discount:
American Indian and Alaska Native Assistance:
Native Hawaiian child care and preschool programs:
Child and dependent care tax credit
Earned income tax credit (https://childcare.gov/consumer-education/get-help-paying-for-child-care)
What types of federal student loans are available?
Direct Subsidized Loans .
Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Direct PLUS Loans
Direct Consolidation Loans
(https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans)
Social Security Survivors Benefits
Eligible survivors include:...
COVID funeral reimbursement now $9,000
Much more: https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4125609/posts?page=67#67https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4125609/posts?page=67#67https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4125609/posts?page=67#67
“Let me tell you how it will be/that’s 1 for you, 19 for me/cuz I’m the tax man...’’’
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