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V. excited about Sen Romney’s child allowance proposal, but v. worried a/b eliminating SNAP Categorical Eligibility (“cat el”) as a $3B annual pay for. My wonkiest tweet thread ever. h/t @pamela_herd & @kt_fitzpatrick
TANF $ have been used to give SNAP elig. to those who fail gross income or asset tests. Trump admin wanted to eliminate cat el, costs it at $3B, same # in Romney plan.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-07-24/pdf/2019-15670.pdf
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-07-24/pdf/2019-15670.pdf
Who benefits from cat el? 2 broad groups.
1. Those w/low income but assets > $2250 limit ($3500 for elder/disab). Lots of these elderly. Asset test v admin complex, will
admin costs + burden.
1. Those w/low income but assets > $2250 limit ($3500 for elder/disab). Lots of these elderly. Asset test v admin complex, will
admin costs + burden.
2. Those w/total income >130% pov, but income after deductions < 100% pov.
This group is 5% of caseload. Avg ben ~$60/month.
Lots of working parents w/kids. Also elderly/disabled w/high med + housing costs.
This group is 5% of caseload. Avg ben ~$60/month.
Lots of working parents w/kids. Also elderly/disabled w/high med + housing costs.
Trump admin estimates % of current SNAP participants who would lose benefits w/out cat el:
13% of elderly
13% of workers
7% of fams w/kids
13% of elderly
13% of workers
7% of fams w/kids
Not a good way to pay for a child benefit!
For the uber wonky: no cat el means big income notch for elig.
(notches = bad)
Yes and it also would be work disincentive.
For the uber wonky: no cat el means big income notch for elig.
(notches = bad)Yes and it also would be work disincentive.
. @Robert_t_Orr says this is not intended to be the pay for. Instead what's meant is to somehow save on SNAP ben to those currently on TANF. Some math here.
~10% of SNAP w/kids receive $ from TANF (higher than I expected!). ~4% of overall caseload.
This is a very low income pop, ~all w/kids.
Avg month ben. ~$400. Avg fam inc/pov 50%. (QC 2018 data)
This is a very low income pop, ~all w/kids.
Avg month ben. ~$400. Avg fam inc/pov 50%. (QC 2018 data)
Annual SNAP ben to these TANF fams ~$4.4B.
They’ll ~all be income elig for SNAP after losing TANF. SNAP partic rates v. high among low-income HH’s, they would ~all sign up.
They’ll ~all be income elig for SNAP after losing TANF. SNAP partic rates v. high among low-income HH’s, they would ~all sign up.
Can’t see much/any cost savings possible here.
+ would you even want to save $$ by dropping very poor kids from SNAP?
The $3B must be coming from dropping cat el for asset & income tests.
+ would you even want to save $$ by dropping very poor kids from SNAP?
The $3B must be coming from dropping cat el for asset & income tests.
TANF has big downsides, but not wise to eliminate it either.
TANF does more than just provide $ that would be replaced by Romney plan. Also provides subsidized employment, work supports.
TANF does more than just provide $ that would be replaced by Romney plan. Also provides subsidized employment, work supports.
I get the desire to eliminate program redundancy! But the TANF + SNAP pieces of the pay for need more thinking through.
I’m sure Sen. Romney (who I admire & respect) would agree:
Taking modest SNAP benefits from struggling working families + elderly is not a good way to find $3B.
Taking modest SNAP benefits from struggling working families + elderly is not a good way to find $3B.
P.S. Would love to see someone else think thru the EITC pay for!
(oh who am I kidding, I’ll give that some thought next…)
(oh who am I kidding, I’ll give that some thought next…)
