ST. PAUL, Minn. - A year has passed since a state task force laid out solutions to some of the serious problems facing Minnesota's Family Investment Program, but not much has changed. Today, advocates for low-income families are in the Capitol, again asking lawmakers to implement some of the changes laid out in last year's report.

Jessica Webster is a lawyer with Minnesota Legal Aid who also worked on the task force. She says the thousands of families who rely on public assistance haven't seen a raise in that help since 1986.

"It's now been a year, we're facing even deeper erosion," she says. "It just recognizes the consequences of doing nothing. These are 64,000 kids living in deep, extreme poverty by federal definition."

The report found most Minnesota families in need in 2013 received on average about $350 a month, the same amount as 30 years ago. Advocates argue that's not enough to cover even half a month's rent in many parts of the state.

Last year a bipartisan group of lawmakers tried to pass a raise in the cash assistance by $100 a month, an idea backed by Gov. Mark Dayton. But ultimately that move went nowhere. Now, just a few weeks ahead of the upcoming legislative session, Webster is urging lawmakers to finally take action.

"Frankly, we were advocating increases in years of deep deficit, and now we're in another year with an incredible surplus," says Webster. "The money is there, the time is right, the issue is so urgent, we just want leaders to do the right thing."

Among other solutions, Webster is asking lawmakers to redirect about $23 million from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families fund to increase grants to low-income families.


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A new report from the Headwaters Foundation in Montana showed at least half the people who receive public assistance are only enrolled for one year, dispelling a myth recipients are getting long-term government aid.

Nearly two-thirds of people only receive one form of assistance. More than 120,000 Montana families receive government aid every year, based on their income.

Erin Switalski, program director for the foundation, said they wanted to know who the recipients are, why they are enrolled in public assistance programs and for how long.

"People are really receiving public assistance for short periods of time," Switalski reported. "We found that folks primarily are caregivers in the family. So, they might be caring for children; they might be caring for parents or an older adult."

The report found Montana's public assistance programs lift 69% of older adults and 44% of children out of poverty, and the numbers could be higher. The report estimated 40% of Montana families who are eligible for help do not get it because a variety of barriers prevent them from enrolling.

Bryce Ward, founder of ABMJ Consulting, was commissioned by the foundation to do the study, called "Supporting Our Neighbors." Ward said the variety of people on public assistance was surprising and well over half don't receive these benefits for more than a year.

"Those that are in for the longer periods of time are probably those you might imagine, right?" Ward observed. "They's the people who report more disabilities, families with young kids, and single parents."

The report also found 97% of families with children who receive public assistance but have no aging or disabled members in the household have at least one person who works full-time.

A new report showed more than 100,000 eligible Virginians 65 and older are not enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

With senior participation rates at just 37.4%, advocates are calling for urgent action, particularly during Hunger Action Month.

Cassie Edner, public benefits attorney and director of Virginia Hunger Solutions at the Virginia Poverty Law Center, explained several factors contribute to the low enrollment, according to the report by the National Council on Aging and the Urban Institute. She noted a general lack of awareness and the complexity of applying for benefits in the Commonwealth may be key barriers for many, regardless of eligibility.

"It just could be too low," Edner acknowledged. "We often hear of people that say, hey, this isn't worth going through the hoops that we have to go through in order to receive just $23 per month."

Despite progress made with programs such as the Elderly Simplified Application Project, which streamlines the process for seniors without earned income, Edner emphasized more must be done to reach the most vulnerable populations. The Virginia Food Access Coalition and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks are partnering with the coalition to urge legislators to reduce administrative barriers to SNAP participation.

Edner and other advocates are urging policymakers to raise the minimum SNAP benefit for seniors to $50 per month and simplify the application process. In the meantime, the center operates a hotline to assist seniors in navigating the benefits process. She said many seniors are unaware of deductions to help increase their minimum benefit.

"You just need more than $35 in medical expenses for seniors and individuals with disability to get a $200 deduction for medical expenses, and we often see this not used often," Edner observed. "In some of the state, it may be difficult to receive information about SNAP."

Edner suggested mailing issues could be a factor, as the report shows the lowest SNAP enrollment rates are in Southeast and Northern Virginia, with fewer than one in four eligible seniors receiving benefits in York County and Poquoson City.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2023 Household Food Security Report revealed 13.5% of U.S. households, 18 million in total, experienced food insecurity last year. In Virginia, 10% of the population faced food insecurity between 2021 and 2023.

Last year's Medicaid expansion in South Dakota increased eligibility to another 51,000 adults but a new report showed among people across the state who qualify, only 39% are enrolled.

Groups likely to be uninsured include young adults and American Indian young adults. About half of those who are uninsured now qualify for Medicaid benefits.

Xanna Burg, director of South Dakota Kids Count, said low enrollment rates are, in part, due to timing. She explained the expansion was rolling out just as states were ending the federal requirement which kept everyone on Medicaid covered during the pandemic.

"I think having those happen in tandem hurt the ability to really do this significant outreach to eligible populations," Burg observed. "Because you're trying to deliver one message saying, 'We've expanded eligibility,' and then there's this other message that's saying, 'You need to, like, re-enroll.'"

Matt Althoff, secretary of social services, has said some people who were disenrolled are making more income and no longer qualify and this should be celebrated. The expansion actually increased the income level for households to qualify, from just over $14,000 a year for a family of four, to about $43,000.

Burg noted one challenge for enrollment is, the information helping to determine eligibility is housed under different programs in the state. She argued more communication could boost the numbers.

"Thinking about where programs can talk to each other, whether it's through SNAP or WIC or the Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program," Burg suggested. "Working across agencies to really identify these populations that might be eligible."

State officials said it could take up to two years to reach full enrollment.