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Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity leads research and consulting initiatives that identify and address barriers to economic well-being.
Type
State
Issue
The Los Angeles Times, April 13, 2009: Fraud infects state in-home care program
"The aim is to allow low- income and elderly incapacitated people to remain in their homes, saving the state the expense of costly nursing homes. Experts generally consider it a success"
The Chicago Sun Times, April 13, 2009: Resist urge to raid IRA or 401(k)
"Most likely, Social Security will become a "needs-based" payout to low-income, elderly recipients -- not a return of the "investments" you made with all those FICA deductions"
The Brattleboro Reformer, April 8, 2009: (Editorial) Not-so golden years
"According to state figures, 18 percent of married couples over 65 earn less than $15,000 per year, 27 percent of households 65-74 earn less than 200 percent of the poverty level"
The Contra Costa Times, April 7, 2009: (Editorial) If tax proposals fail, California should look at income surtax
"[T]ax policy needs to be more progressive. The current tax increases take a larger percentage of lower income earners' pay than is the case for those with higher incomes"
The Associated Press, April 3, 2009: Senior center waiting lists grow amid tight budget
"State funding cuts have left northeast Georgia senior centers turning away low-income elderly or putting them on wait lists to access the hot meals and companionship the centers provide"
The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 1, 2009: Reed Smith to lay off 100 lawyers and staff
"That has been a boon to organizations such as the Senior Law Center of Philadelphia, which provides legal services to low-income seniors"
The Associated Press, April 1, 2009: Food stamp benefits increase about $20 per person
"Florida has seen a 31 percent increase in the number of people on food stamps, compared to a year ago. The recipients are generally low-income families with children, as well as seniors and people with disabilities
The Associated Press, March 31, 2009: Older workers delay retirement, retirees seek work
"The $787 billion economic stimulus package that President Barack Obama signed includes $120 million in additional money for the program, which provides subsidized, part-time community service jobs to low-income workers 55 and older"
The Associated Press, March 25, 2009: Stimulus money to help train older workers
"[T]he additional stimulus money will help provide job training, counseling and community service assignments to older, low-income workers who have poor employment prospects"
The Tulsa World, March 15, 2009: Retirees un-retire: Many return to work force
"The program, which uses a grant from the Department of Labor administered by the AARP Foundation, tries to help low-income people 55 and older find employment"
The Orlando Sentinel, March 16, 2009: (Editorial) A means test for Medicare drugs makes sense to raise money for health reform
"Under current law, all but the lowest-income seniors are charged equally for the same taxpayer-subsidized prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D -- about 25 percent of the cost"
The Concord Monitor, March 10, 2009: (Op-Ed) Don't scrap the Foster Grandparent Program
"As foster grandparents, seniors who are isolated and struggling to make ends meet can earn a monthly stipend by volunteering to tutor/mentor at-risk children in schools for 15 to 40 hours per week"