VOLUME 17 ISSUE 1 The August-September 2015 WELFARE AGITATOR Want to get Just Harvest’s Welfare Agitator by email? The latest news and practical information on poverty and hunger policy in Allegheny County. Contact us at [email protected] PA News Governor Ends Food Stamp Asset Test New Rules on Food Stamps for ABAWDS As of April 27, food stamp applicants no longer need As of January 1, 2016, able-bodied adults without to submit bank statements for checking and savings dependents (ABAWDs) age 18-49 will only be able to accounts and vehicle registration(s) to show that their receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program savings and second cars (if they have them) are worth (SNAP) benefits (“food stamps”) for three months in below $5,500 ($9,000 for seniors). a three-year time period unless they work at least 20 The extra paperwork the asset test required was hours/week, do some other federally qualified work burdensome for Department of Human Services activity, or are medically exempt. employees, leading to unnecessary delays for those Since 1997, ABAWDs had been required to work desperate for food assistance. This contributed to or to participate in a job training activity in order to PA being among the worst in the nation for its slow receive food stamps. Emergency rules allowed those application processing. requirements to be waived statewide during the re- Just Harvest and our fellow anti-hunger advocates cent years of economic crisis. Beginning next year, 23 had been lobbying against Pennsylvnia’s unfair, waste- states, including , will no longer qualify ful, and completely unnecessary food stamp asset test for the waiver. since former Governor Tom Corbett put it in place in Consumers who use SNAP/food stamps but do 2012. Because the asset test is a state administrative not receive cash assistance and are in a welfare Em- option in federal food stamp rules, Gov. Wolf and Hu- ployment and Training Program are eligible for the man Services Secretary Ted Dallas were able to take same special allowances that cash assistance con- this action on their own; no approval or action by the sumers use. You can get help to pay for childcare and state legislature was required. school expenses such as books and transportation. Two New State Bills Aim to Criminalize People in Poverty In the continuing attempt to portray food stamp and attempt to shape that debate and to pave the way for TANF recipients as lazy drug addicts not worthy of cuts in human services by demeaning people who re- receiving public benefits, Rep. Mike Regan (R-Cum- ceive public benefits and painting them as “unworthy”. berland and York) and Rep. Tim Krieger (R-Westmo- Future cuts to food stamps and TANF are easier when reland) have introduced two bills in the Pennsylvania you’ve framed benefit recipients as drug users and House of Representatives: House Bill (HB) 222 and HB drug dealers. 1380, respectively. HB 222 would enact a 20 year ban By attempting to pass these types of laws, it creates on receiving SNAP/food stamps and TANF for anyone a (false) perception that they are needed, when in real- convicted of felony drug distribution while receiving ity, the lawmakers are wasting their time and taxpayer public benefits. HB 1380 would implement a drug test dollars. for applicants and recipients of public assistance. YOUR VOICE HAS POWER: Despite what legislators claim, this is not about Call your PA House Representative today! public policy. These kinds of bills get brought up time Tell him/her: “Stop framing me as a drug addict! and time again, typically by Republican legislators Vote NO on HB 222 and HB 1380!” around budget season when discussions are under- ➢ Find his contact info on page 2 or look up your way about priorities in public spending. This is their legislator online at www.bit.ly/findPArep VOL. 17 NO. 1 State Budget (In)Action PAGE 2 State Senators What Pennsylvania Needs in a State Budget and Why It Matters James R. Brewster (D-45) June 30 was the deadline for Pennsylva- tax changes that would clearly serve this (412) 664-5200 nia to sign a state budget for next year. state’s citizens. Jay Costa (D-43) (412)-241-6690 Every budget is an expression of priori- So now we are at an “impasse” where Wayne D. Fontana (D-42) ties, and Gov. Wolf was elected last No- neither side will budge. Wolf vetoed (412)-344-2551 vember because a majority of Pennsylva- the Republicans’ misguided budget and Rudolph Vulakovich (R-38) nians believed then-Gov. Corbett had the he refuses to back down despite their (412)-487-6607 wrong ones. For four years he marched attempts to blame the frozen budget State Representatives our state in the wrong direction. entirely on him. Robert F. Matzie (D-16) Since taking office, Governor Wolf The effects of not having a budget (724)-266-7774 has made clear to the state legislature vary from government-funded agency to (D-19) what their new priorities should be and (412)-471-7760 agency. Vital social services such as WIC has drafted a budget that would support programs, medical assistance, unemploy- (D-20) those priorities: (412)-321-5523 ment compensation, and food stamps (D-21) • Resourcing our chronically under- will continue because state employees (412)-361-2040 funded human services agencies; will continue to work and get paid, as (D-23) • Returning the more than $1 billion required by past court decisions. (412)-422-1774 dollars that early childhood, K-12, and But if a deal can’t be reached soon, (D-24) secondary schools lost during Corbett’s the outlook could soon turn grim for (412)-665-5502 Joseph F. Markosek (D-25) term, and adding $1 billion more to schools and for counties and nonprofits (412)-856-8284 public prek-12 funding. PA is one of only that provide social services. Due to five Daniel J. Deasy (D-27) three states in the nation that doesn’t use years of flat state funding for human ser- (412)-928-9514 state funding to balance out gaps be- vices, agencies that provide “foster care, Mike Turzai (R-28) tween rich and poor school districts; residential services for children, drug and (412)-369-2230 • Reforming our horribly unfair state alcohol counseling, and in-home care for Harold A. English (R-30) tax structure to provide tax relief to low- people with disabilities” are operating (412)-487-6605 er- and middle-income Pennsylvanians. without a cushion. Anthony M. DeLuca (D-32) (412)-793-2448 PA has the 6th most regressive tax system It is shameful that we have a frozen Frank Dermody (D-33) in the nation—it takes more from people budget because of a stand-off between (724)-274-4770 with less income and vice versa; Republican leadership of the legislature (D-34) • Raising the minimum wage to $10.10. and the governor. Our legislators should (412)-273-3400 be scrambling to improve the lives of PA Marc J. Gergely (D-35) And what makes those four R’s citizens, not taking them hostage to score (412)-476-3046 possible? Another R: Revenue. In order political points. to achieve these tax cuts for low-income (D-36) YOUR VOICE HAS POWER: (412)-881-4208 families and increased investments in William C. Kortz (D-38) our children we need to raise the amount Call Gov. Wolf ‘s office today! (412)-886-2870 of money the state collects to pay for it. Tell him: “We need a responsible bud- Rick Saccone (R-39) Raising taxes on a natural gas industry get, and human services needs critical (412)-653-1025 that is reaping profits from Marcellus incresases in funding. Don’t settle for John Maher (R-40) Shale drilling—something Republican anything less.” (412)-831-8080 leaders are refusing to do—helps get us ➢ (717) 787-2500 | (412) 565-5700 Daniel L. Miller (D-42) to that goal. (412)-343-3870 Call your legislators’ offices today! Mark Mustio (R-44) The majority of Pennsylvanians are Tell your senator and representative (412)-262-3780 still with the governor; they share these that you support Gov. Wolf’s budget (D-45) priorities. But the Republican-controlled plan and that it’s time for a responsible (412)-264-4260 House and Senate have delivered a bud- state budget that prioritzes the needs Jason A. Ortitay (R-46) get bill, HB 1192, that offers Pennsylvania of all Pennsylvanians. (412)-221-5110 nothing. It does not even go part-way ➢ Find their contact info to the left or Eli Evankovich (R-54) towards funding the kinds of services and look up your legislator online at (724)-335-2790 www.bit.ly/findPArep JUST HARVEST | 16 Terminal Way | (412) 431-8960 | justharvest.org VOL. 17 NO. 1 U.S. Budget Action PAGE 3 Federal Budget Disaster Ahead Expiration Date on Child Nutrition Programs Following the 2014 election Republicans are now the Roughly one in five children in our region live in majority in the U.S. House and Senate, but the budget poverty and rely on free school meals to keep from they’re proposing will only benefit a slim minority of going hungry. What do they do when school is out? Americans. Thanks to federal funding they can head to neigh- The U.S. House and Senate passed their budgets borhood summer meal sites for meals and a snack separately in March. In April a budget conference every day. But this funding is set to expire on Septem- committee was formed made up of representatives of ber 30. the two chambers. The task of the committee is to take The U.S. House and the Senate are currently work- the House and Senate passed budgets and negotiate a ing on the 5-year Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act. budget “reconciliation” that meets in the middle. This package of policies authorizes all of the federal The final outcome was a report that gave instruc- school meal and child nutrition programs, which pro- tions to both chambers on how much they need to vide funding for low-income children to have access to cut: $5 trilllion over the next 10 years. Currently, that healthy and nutritious foods. work is underway in various committees. The Appro- priations Committee is crafting spending bills for each We need to join together to urge our elected legis- area of federal government, such as the Agriculture lators to support three bipartisan bills—bills supported Bill, which is slated to reduce funding for vital pro- by both political parties—that have great potential grams like WIC. to dramatically reduce hunger during the summer months and year-round. Other items on the conservatives’ agenda: • Repealing the Affordable Care Act which has in- • The Summer Meals Act of 2015 (S. 613, H.R. sured 16.4 million Americans; 1728): This Act would strengthen, protect, and expand • Cutting Medicaid; access to the Summer Nutrition Programs. These pro- • Cuts to mandatory spending, which includes such grams help reduce hunger and combat childhood obe- programs as food stamps, disability payments for vet- sity experienced by low-income children over the sum- erans, Pell grants for students, and the Earned Income mer months. These programs also support educational Tax Credit. and enrichment programs that keep children learning, • Cutting taxes for millionaires while raising taxes on engaged, and safe when school is not in session. 26 million working families and students. • The Stop Child Summer Hunger Act of 2015 (S. What was defeated in prior rounds of budget negoti- 1539, H.R. 2715): This Act would provide low-income ations: families with an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card • A Democrat-supported House budget amendment for the summer to purchase food. This bill is intended that would have cut U.S. poverty in half in 10 years, to provide an additional support for children during as well as other Democratic amendments designed to the summer months, and does not replace the existing protect U.S. safety net programs and invest in working Summer Nutrition Programs. families. • The Access to Healthy Food for Young Children YOUR VOICE HAS POWER: Act of 2015 (S. 1833): This Act is sponsored by U.S. Call your U.S. Senators and Representative today! Senator from PA Bob Casey and would boost the Tell them what government programs and services Child and Adult Care Feeding Program (CACFP), are important to you and that the country needs giving children in child care and afterschool programs a national budget that reflects the priorities of the better access to nutritious food. majority of Americans. YOUR VOICE HAS POWER: ➢ Call your U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA): (202) 224-4254 | (412) 803-7370 Call U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) today! Tell him: “Please pass a robust Child Nutrition Re- ➢ Call your U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA): (202) 224-4254 | (412) 803-3501 authorization Act that would invest in and improve ➢ Find your U.S. Representative online at critical child nutrition programs.” www.bit.ly/findUSrep ➢ (202) 224-4254 | (412) 803-3501 JUST HARVEST | 16 Terminal Way | (412) 431-8960 | justharvest.org NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE P A I D , PA 16 Terminal Way PERMIT NO. 3127 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 ELECTRONIC SERVICE REQUESTED

VOL. 17 NO. 1 PAGE 4 Did You Know? • You can now access your welfare benefits online. By • The expiration date of Select Plan for Women is no setting up a MyCOMPASS account online, you can review longer June 30. It has been extended to October 31. and print information about the benefits you are cur- rently receiving, see when you are due for a renewal, and Just Harvest Can Help! report information about changes. To create an account, ➢ Just Harvest can help you apply for food stamps on you will need to have your Case Record number, or an the phone. We can also help if you are having trouble receiving food stamps, LIHEAP, or cash assistance. e-form # from a COMPASS application handy, as well Call us for free assistance or a 5-minute eligibility either your EBT card or your Social Security Number. You screening: M-F 9am-5pm at (412) 431-8960 x602. can also use MyCOMPASS to apply for benefits. A screen- Just Harvest’s Fresh Access program enables farm- ing tool can help you determine which benefits you may ➢ ers market shoppers to use their food stamps – as be eligible for. Go to www.compass.state.pa.us well as credit and debit cards – to buy fresh, nutri- • On July 1 the PA Department of Human Services tious, and locally-grown food. And now, Fresh Access released a version of COMPASS for smart phones. As of Food Bucks give food stamp shoppers an extra August it was not yet possible to do a benefits application $2.00 to spend on fruits and veggies for every $5.00 from mobile view, but you can access MyCOMPASS and they spend in food stamps at our 15 participating check the status of an application. farmers markets! Visit www.justharvest.org/get- help/fresh-access/ to learn more and to get market • All welfare benefitsSAR’s (semi-annual renewals) and locations and hours. Annual Recertifications now have a bar code on them ➢ You can get the latest news and policy updates by so that when you submit them to the PA Dept. of Human connecting with Just Harvest on social media: Services caseworkers can scan them and automatically facebook.com/JustHarvest twitter.com/JustHarvest attach them to your file for processing. This should make document processing much less time consuming and ➢ You can receive this publication by email or mail! limit the delay or closure of benefits for clients. Contact us at [email protected].