Elizabeth Lower-Basch: Publications
- Mar 29, 2013 | Lavanya Mohan CLASP Work Supports Newsletter - March 2013 The Work Supports Newsletter is a monthly update that summarizes CLASP's work on safety net programs that include cash assistance (TANF), nutrition supports (SNAP), refundable tax credits, health insurance, child support enforcement and child care subsidies. Read Online
- Mar 25, 2013 | Allegra Baider, Vickie Choitz, Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield, Marcie W.M. Foster, Linda Harris, Elizabeth Lower-Basch, Neil Ridley, Julie Strawn Funding Career Pathways and Career Pathway Bridges: A Federal Policy Toolkit for States This toolkit is designed to help interagency state teams identify and facilitate "braiding" of federal resources to design and develop career pathways and bridges into them for adults and out-of-school youth. The toolkit also will help state teams identify state policy barriers to using federal resources for career pathways and bridges and, ideally, address them. Read Online | Download PDF
- Mar 15, 2013 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch and Neil Ridley Navigating Federal Programs to Build Sustainable Career Pathways in the Health Professions: A Guide for HPOG Programs Healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors in our economy, and there are many jobs in this sector that require fewer than 4 years of college education, have high demand, and offer good pay. However, low-income workers often face barriers to accessing the education and training they need to enter these jobs, including lack of information, poor basic skills, confusing and poorly aligned training programs, cost of training, and need for supportive services, such as child care and transportation. The Heath Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG), authorized by section 5507 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA; Public Law 111-148), address this issue by supporting models for providing education, training, and support services to enable recipients of cash assistance under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other low-income individuals to obtain well-paying jobs in high-demand healthcare occupations. The HPOG program is one of several provisions of ACA aimed at supporting training for the healthcare workforce of the future. Download PDF
- Feb 28, 2013 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Testimony on TANF Work Requirements This is the testimony that Elizabeth Lower-Basch delivered before the Ways and Means Human Resource Subcommittee regarding TANF Work Requirements and Waivers. Download PDF
- Feb 06, 2013 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Goals for TANF Reauthorization This updated Policy Brief argues that poverty alleviation and prevention of material hardship and creation of effective pathways to economic opportunity should be the goals of TANF reauthorization and recommends program changes that would more effectively promote these goals. Download PDF
- Oct 01, 2012 | Elizabeth Kenefick and Elizabeth Lower-Basch Helping TANF Recipients Overcome Addiction This brief aims to provide updated information on the range of state policies and highlights some of the promising approaches that states are using to address substance abuse by TANF recipients. It is based primarily on a recent CLASP-commissioned survey conducted by students at George Washington's School of Public Policy, as well as interviews they conducted with state TANF program administrators. Download PDF
- Oct 01, 2012 | Matt Lewis, Elizabeth Kenefick, and Elizabeth Lower-Basch Random Drug Testing of TANF Recipients is Costly, Ineffective and Hurts Families Updated October 2012. Legislators in a number of states have proposed to test all TANF recipients for drug use. This updated brief explains that random drug testing may be unconstitutional, and is a costly and ineffective way to identify individuals in need of substance abuse treatment. Screening, targeted testing programs, and enhanced treatment options are a better approach to helping TANF families affected by substance abuse. Download PDF
- Jul 26, 2012 | Patrick Reimherr and Elizabeth Lower-Basch Senate Lays the Groundwork for Fair Deficit Reduction On Wednesday, the Senate approved a one-year extension of the Bush-era tax cuts for those making under $250,000 a year -- 98 percent of all Americans. The passage of the Middle Class Tax Cut Act (S.3412) marks a significant step toward the principle of a balanced approach to deficit reduction, with new revenues as well as spending cuts. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, the bill would save the U.S. nearly $1 trillion over 10 years. Read Online
- Jul 11, 2012 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Testimony for the Record: Plateaus, Cliffs and Work Incentives CLASP submitted Testimony for the Record for the House Ways and Means Committee's hearing on work incentives in low-income support programs. Download PDF
- Jun 11, 2012 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Comments to HHS on TANF Assistance and Electronic Benefit Transactions A new law requires states to restrict access to TANF assistance from ATMs and POS devices in certain locations. This document responds to HHS' request for comments on how to implement this provision. Download PDF
- May 17, 2012 | Stan Dorn and Elizabeth Lower-Basch Moving to 21st-Century Public Benefits: Emerging Options, Great Promise, and Key Challenges Currently, millions of needy individuals and families do not receive some or all of the benefits for which they are eligible. In many cases, this is due to the complicated and burdensome processes involved in demonstrating that an applicant has met all eligibility requirements and in recertifying this information on a regular basis. Written for the Coalition for Access and Opportunity, this paper illustrates how sharing data and basing eligibility decisions on existing information can cut administrative costs, help more families in need of assistance access benefits and strengthen programs. Download PDF
- May 17, 2012 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Testimony for the Record on State Spending and Work Participation CLASP submitted Testimony for the Record for the House Ways and Means Committee's hearing on State TANF Spending and its Impact on Work Requirements. Download PDF
- Apr 24, 2012 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Helping Vulnerable Americans Put Dinner on the Table, the SNAP Program Needs Citizen Support The Senate Agriculture Committee has released draft language for the 2012 Farm Bill, which it will begin "marking-up" in a hearing this Wednesday. This bill, typically passed every five years, sets national policy and funding direction for agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry programs. Read Online
- Apr 18, 2012 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch All the Sacrifice Yesterday, the Budget Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives held a hearing that was titled "Strengthening the Safety Net" but was really about Chairman Ryan's proposals to cut billions of dollars from safety net programs, including converting both Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) into block grants. Read Online
- Mar 20, 2012 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch In Orwellian Fashion, Ryan Budget 'Repairs' Safety Net by Slashing It Programs that provide health care and food assistance are squarely in the cross sights of the proposed Fiscal Year 2013 budget released Tuesday by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan. His proposal singles out Medicaid and SNAP for cuts by converting them into block grants. Other domestic programs would also have to be slashed to achieve his proposed spending levels. Read Online
- Mar 02, 2012 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Why Drug Testing Public Benefit Recipients Is a Distraction Twenty-three states around the country are considering requiring drug tests for recipients of programs like welfare (TANF) and food stamps. Elizabeth Lower-Basch discusses which states are proposing these tests and why she believes that they are unnecessary. Read Online
- Feb 14, 2012 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch President's Budget Includes Subsidized Employment and Job Training Opportunities President Obama's budget blueprint released Monday lays out spending priorities for the nation. The proposal calls for Congress to support employment and job training opportunities for unemployed workers through the Pathways Back to Work Fund. This proposal indicates that the president recognizes that the economic recovery must be inclusive to be complete. Read Online
- Feb 01, 2012 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Unemployment Insurance Drug Testing: A Bad Cure in Search of a Problem By the end of this month, Congress must again act to extend federal unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, or millions of workers will lose access to this vital lifeline. In December, the House of Representatives proposed to attach a provision to the extension that would allow states to require workers to take a drug test before receiving benefits. Read Online | Download PDF
- Nov 08, 2011 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Big Ideas for Job Creation: Rethinking Work Opportunity - From Tax Credits to Subsidized Job Placements This paper is part of the Big Ideas for Job Creation in a Jobless Recovery project, which includes proposals from more than a dozen leading experts on practical, scalable proposals to create more jobs for the U.S. economy. CLASP Senior Policy Analyst Elizabeth Lower-Basch recommends that deeper, more targeted subsidies administered at the state level are an effective way to encourage employers to hire disadvantaged workers and create jobs. There are federal subsidies such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) currently in place to encourage hiring of disadvantaged workers, but in contrast, they often provide large windfalls to employers in low-wage, high-turnover industries without creating any net new jobs or changing who they hire. Download PDF
- Sep 22, 2011 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Improving Work and Other Welfare Reform Goals On September 8, the Human Resources Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on TANF, in preparation for the pending reauthorization of the block grant. CLASP submitted this testimony for the record. Download PDF
- Apr 19, 2011 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Testimony for the Record on GAO Report on Duplication of Government Programs, Focus on Welfare and Related Programs In April 2011, the Subcommittee on Human Resources to the Committee on Ways and Means in the U.S. House of Representatives, held a hearing on Duplication of Government Programs with a focus on welfare and related programs. CLASP's testimony for the record focuses on how the programs should be coordinated into a system of benefits that is easy to access, unstigmatized, responsive to economic hardship, open to all, and fully funded. Education and training are drivers of economic mobility and opportunity, and low-wage workers and low-income individuals need access to them to enter and advance in the labor market. Download PDF
- Apr 14, 2011 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Keep Your Eye on the Ball Media coverage of the federal budget focuses almost entirely on the political horse race aspects: Is the President or Congress doing better in the overnight polls? Who is winning? Does compromise make you look statesmanlike or weak? Often lost in the shuffle is the actual substance of the budget: What programs will get funded? How will they be paid for? Read Online
- Mar 14, 2011 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Testimony Before House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources CLASP senior policy analyst, Elizabeth Lower-Basch, testified during the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources Hearing on Use of Data Matching to Improve Customer Service, Program Integrity, and Taxpayer Savings. CLASP shares the concern with reducing error rates and fraud to save taxpayer funds, preserve funding for those who are truly eligible for programs, and protect public support for programs. Data matching can reduce administrative costs by sharing information collected by one program with another, and reducing the number of visits that customers must make to various offices. This also improves customer service, and reduces the time that applicants must take away from work or other responsibilities. Read Online | Download PDF
- Mar 01, 2011 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Guide to Use of TANF and MOE Funds This brief summaries the federal rules regarding use of federal TANF funds and state funds claimed towards the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirement. Download PDF
- Feb 16, 2011 | LaDonna Pavetti (CBPP), Liz Schott (CBPP) and Elizabeth Lower-Basch (CLASP) Creating Subsidized Employment Opportunities for Low-Income Parents: The Legacy of the TANF Emergency Fund During 2009 and 2010, 39 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and eight Tribal TANF programs received approval to use $1.3 billion from the TANF Emergency Fund to create new subsidized employment programs or expand existing ones. This paper examines how states used the flexibility they were given to design and implement subsidized employment programs and what challenges they faced in getting them up and running, and draws lessons for future such programs. Download PDF
- Jan 21, 2011 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Cash Assistance since Welfare Reform This Policy Brief summarizes trends in cash assistance since welfare reform -- declining caseloads, progress in employment and poverty reduction in the early years, with setbacks since 2001, and an intense focus on meeting work participation rate requirements. Download PDF
- Jan 21, 2011 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant This Policy Brief explores the wide range of programs for low-income families supported by the TANF block grant and the declining share of the grant dedicated to cash assistance. It also highlights the degree to which the grant has been eroded by inflation and population grown. Download PDF
- Jan 12, 2011 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch and Abigail Newcomer Federal Funding for Integrated Service Delivery These briefs describe federal programs identified as possible funding sources for one or more components of integrated service delivery, including benefit access, workforce development and financial literacy services. Read Online | Download PDF
- Dec 15, 2010 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Part-Time Work in Recession and Recovery This presentation by CLASP senior policy analyst Elizabeth Lower-Basch explores the circumstances of part-time workers, the reasons for part-time work, and what has happened to part-time work during the recession. She also considers the implications of part-time work for the Unemployment Insurance and Workforce Investment Act systems. Read Online | Download PDF
- Dec 09, 2010 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch 2011 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Extension In late November, the House and Senate extended the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant for the duration of federal fiscal year 2011, as part of H.R. 4783, the Claims Resolution Act of 2010. President Obama recently signed it into law (P.L. 111-291). This fact sheet summarizes the changes made by it. Download PDF
- Nov 30, 2010 | Elizabeth Kenefick States using the TANF Emergency Fund for Subsidized Employment The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 created a new TANF Emergency Fund to assist states in expanding services during the recession. The funds could be used for basic assistance, short-term non-recurrent benefits, or subsidized employment. 39 states (plus DC, VI, and PR) funded subsidized employment programs that employed nearly 250,000 youth and adults before the fund expired on Sept. 30, 2010. This slide show depicts the time line of these subsidized employment programs. Read Online | Download File
- Nov 19, 2010 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Extending the TANF Emergency Fund Creates Jobs Now Congress should extend the TANF Emergency Fund as soon as possible so that states can continue and expand their subsidized jobs programs. Download PDF
- Nov 15, 2010 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch CLASP Testimony on DC Time Limits Proposal Download PDF
- Oct 05, 2010 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Lessons from the TANF Emergency Fund In September 2010, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on Welfare Reform: A New Conversation on Women and Poverty. CLASP's testimony for the record focuses on the experience of the TANF Emergency Fund and the lessons that can be taken from it for reauthorization. Download PDF
- Oct 01, 2010 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch and Elizabeth Kenefick TANF Emergency Fund: State Applications Approved as of September 30 As of September 30, 49 states (plus the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and 25 tribes) have been awarded a total of $5 billion from the TANF Emergency Fund. This fact sheet shows the share of its maximum allocation that each state has received. Read Online | Download PDF
- Sep 22, 2010 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Audio Conference: Game Change - Health Reform Allows Enrollment in Other Benefits to Leapfrog Health care reform has the potential to dramatically change the way low-income individuals and families apply for and receive other benefits, such as nutritional assistance and the earned income tax credit. The Coalition to Promote Access and Opportunity hosted an audio conference with some of the nation's leading experts on this topic. Read Online | Download Audio | Additional PDF
- Sep 10, 2010 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch and Elizabeth Kenefick Analysis of Fiscal Year 2009 TANF and MOE Spending by States The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has published data concerning use of federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and state maintenance of effort (MOE) funds in FY 2009. This set of state-by-state charts shows how each state reported using its TANF and MOE funds in FY 2009. (Some states revised March 2011). Read Online | Download Spreadsheet | Additional PDF
- Jul 29, 2010 | Elizabeth Kenefick How much could your state receive under HR 5893? This shows the amounts that states could received under H.R. 5893 "Investing In American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010", released Wednesday July 28, 2010 by the House Ways and Means Committee. It renames the TANF Emergency Fund as the Emergency Fund for Job Creation and Assistance and extends it through FY 2011. Under this bill, states could receive up to 30 percent of their adjusted block grant during FY 2011 Read Online | Download PDF
- Jul 08, 2010 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch CLASP Letter to ACA Enrollment Workgroup On July 1, Elizabeth Lower-Basch sent this letter to the ACA Enrollment Workgroup, recommending the use of health care reform as a platform for benefits access. Download PDF
- May 21, 2010 Letter Supporting the 2010 Jobs Bill On May 20, CLASP Executive Director Alan Houseman sent this urgent letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, urging support for the Promoting American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010. Read Online | Download PDF
- Apr 21, 2010 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch TANF Emergency Fund: Creating Summer Jobs for Youth This report explains the rules and requirements for using the TANF Emergency Fund to support summer jobs for youth. Download PDF
- Mar 25, 2010 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch TANF's Role in Providing Assistance to Struggling Families Testimony for the Record for Hearing on TANF's Role in Providing Assistance to Struggling Families Download PDF
- Feb 04, 2010 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Budget Calls for Raising Asset Limits President Obama’s proposed budget calls for two important changes to asset test requirements across federal programs. Read Online
- Jan 25, 2010 | CLASP Federal Policy Recommendations for 2010 Our nation faces many domestic challenges, including improving access to affordable health care, improving access to education as well as education outcomes, and providing debt and foreclosure relief. CLASP's 2010 federal policy recommendations are equally essential to achieving healthy and thriving families and improving the nation's prosperity. Read Online | Download PDF
- Nov 16, 2009 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch The TANF Emergency Fund: A New Resource for Domestic Violence Programs The TANF Emergency Fund can both provide victims of domestic violence with financial and in-kind services to help address domestic violence issues and also relieve some of the funding pressures on providers. Download PDF
- Nov 02, 2009 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Questions and Answers about the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund This document explains the opportunities for states to help low-income families using the new TANF Emergency Contingency Fund created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This version is updated to reflect the questions and answers posted by HHS in October 2009 Download PDF
- Oct 28, 2009 | Josh Bone and Elizabeth Lower-Basch Analysis of Fiscal Year 2008 TANF and MOE Spending by States The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has published data concerning use of federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and state maintenance of effort (MOE) funds in FY 2008. This set of state-by-state charts shows how each state reported using its TANF and MOE funds in FY 2008. Read Online | Download Spreadsheet | Additional PDF
- Oct 08, 2009 | CLASP CLASP Testimony to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support This written testimony to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support discusses how American Recovery and Reinvestment Act spending has helped safety net programs such as TANF, child care subsidies, unemployment insurance, workforce development programs, and Medicaid, respond to the recession. Download PDF
- Oct 05, 2009 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Testimony to the DC City Council on the TANF Emergency Fund In this testimony delivered to the Human Services Committee of the DC City Council, Ms. Lower-Basch highlights some of the ways to draw down TANF Emergency Funds based on already budgeted expenditures and third-party contributions. Download PDF
- Sep 01, 2009 | CLASP Federal Policy Recommendations for 2009 and Beyond The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) has developed an extensive federal policy agenda for President Obama and the 111th Congress directed at improving the lives of low income people. That agenda is outlined in this document. Download PDF
- Jul 24, 2009 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Looking Ahead to TANF Reauthorization This presentation provides an overview of the trends in welfare receipt and work since the 1996 creation of the TANF block grant and highlights the modest levels of caseload increase in the current recession. It concludes with some thoughts about TANF reauthorization, scheduled for 2010. Read Online | Download PDF
- Jul 24, 2009 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Testimony on TANF Sanctions for the Washington, DC Council As part of the budget gap closing process, the District of Columbia is considering imposing increased sanctions on TANF recipients. In this testimony for the DC Council, Elizabeth Lower-Basch reports on the research on TANF sanctions. Download PDF
- Jul 08, 2009 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Flexible Work Arrangements and Low-Wage Work In this New America Foundation forum, CLASP Senior Policy Analyst Elizabeth Lower-Basch presented on the implications of unpredictable work schedules for low-wage workers and their families and discussed possible policy responses. Read Online
- Apr 24, 2009 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch and Mark Greenberg Single Mothers in the Era of Welfare Reform The 1990s welfare reform and expansion of work supports caused an historic increase in the share of single mothers who were working. This chapter examines the policy changes of the 1990s and since along with the subsequent employment and earnings outcomes for single mothers. It considers how the policy changes affected both employment levels and job quality and discusses implications for next steps for federal and state policies. This chapter is from the 2009 LERA Research Volume, The Gloves-off Economy: Workplace Standards at the Bottom of America's Labor Market, A. Bernhardt, H. Boushey, L. Dresser, and C. Tilly, eds., Champaign IL: Labor and Employment Relations Association, pp. 163--190. Copyright 2008 by the Labor and Employment Relations Association; Champaign, IL. Reprinted with permission. The volume is available through Cornell University Press. Download PDF
- Apr 06, 2009 | Matt Lewis and Elizabeth Lower-Basch Analysis of Fiscal Year 2007 TANF and MOE Spending by States The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has published data concerning use of federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and state maintenance of effort (MOE) funds in FY 2007. This set of state-by-state charts shows how each state reported using its TANF and MOE funds in FY 2007. Read Online | Download Spreadsheet
- Apr 03, 2009 | Allegra Baider and Elizabeth Lower-Basch Making the Employment Connection: New Opportunities to Support Transitional Jobs Programs Using the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund This paper highlights new opportunities to develop or expand Transitional Jobs programs using funding from the new Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Emergency Contingency Fund, which was authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Download PDF
- Mar 20, 2009 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Opportunities in the Recovery Act for Income Support for Low-Income Women and Children This presentation analyzes ways that funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 can be used to improve income supports for low-income women and children. It focuses on the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund and the Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act. Download PDF
- Mar 18, 2009 | David Hansell, Amy Rynell, and Elizabeth Lower-Basch Making the Employment Connection: New Opportunities to Develop Transitional Jobs Programs This audio conference highlights Transitional Jobs programs to help individuals with barriers to employment enter and succeed in the labor market, and features new opportunities created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to develop and expand such programs. It ws co-sponsored by the National Transitional Jobs Network. Download Audio | Additional PDF
- Mar 11, 2009 | Elizabeth Appley, Elizabeth Lower-Basch and Stacey Cox Rebuilding the Safety Net: State and Local Opportunities in Income Support This audio conference features opportunities for improvements in income support programs created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Emergency Contingency Fund both provide additional funds for states -- but only if they take action to expand program access. The expansion in tax credits for low-income workers also provides opportunities for community tax assistance providers. Download Audio | Additional PDF
- Feb 22, 2009 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Provisions in Economic Stimulus Bill to Help Low-Income Families (Interview with Elizabeth Lower-Basch on C-SPAN's Washington Journal) On February 22, 2009, Elizabeth Lower-Basch, senior policy analyst with the Workforce Development team at CLASP, joined C-SPAN's Washington Journal to discuss provisions in the economic stimulus to help low-income individuals and families. Read Online
- Oct 02, 2008 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch CLASP Comments on HHS Regulation Disallowing Credit for Excess MOE In these comments, CLASP urges the Department of Health and Human Services to maintain a provision that gives states an incentive to spend more of their money than the minimum required to avoid penalty. CLASP strongly disagrees with HHS' claim that reduced cash assistance caseloads mean that there is less of a need for additional spending. Download PDF
- Sep 11, 2008 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Families and Workplaces in the Twenty-First Century: Multiple Roles Place Heavy Demands on American Workers This testimony on work-life challenges was given before the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support of the Committee on Ways and Means on September 11, 2008, as part of a hearing on the pressures facing American workers. Download PDF
- Jun 09, 2008 | Neil Ridley, Elizabeth Lower-Basch, and Matt Lewis Low-Income Workers and Families Hardest Hit by Economic Decline Need Help Now American workers and families are being squeezed between a declining labor market and increasing costs for food, fuel, and other basic needs. This paper describes the economy's impact on vulnerable adults and youth, and lays out recommendations for action that can make a real difference in the lives of low-income workers and their families. Download PDF
- Apr 09, 2008 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Tax Credits and Public Benefits: Complementary Approaches to Supporting Low-Income Families Tax credits and public benefits are complementary approaches to supporting low-income families; policy makers do not need to choose between them. By understanding the advantages and disadvantages of both mechanisms, advocates and policy makers can better choose the right tool for the job at hand, rather than adopting a one-size fits all approach. Download PDF
- Mar 20, 2008 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Education and Training for TANF Recipients: Opportunities and Challenges under the Final Rule On February 5, 2008, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published the final rules implementing changes in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program made by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. This paper explains the changes in the new rules that affect recipients' access to education and training, and the actions that states will need to take in order to take advantage of these changes. Many welfare recipients lack the education needed to successfully compete in the labor market. By enabling recipients to participate in education and training activities, states can help improve their long-term employment and earnings outcomes as well as increase their participation rates. Download PDF
- Jan 31, 2008 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Final TANF Rules Include Modest Improvements; Further Action Needed to Restore the Safety Net This week, the Department of Health and Human Services placed on public display the final rules implementing the changes to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program made by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The rule includes several modest but positive changes affecting the work participation rate requirements, but does not change the overall focus on documenting participation. Many of the changes respond to concerns that CLASP and numerous other organizations submitted in response to the interim final rule. Download PDF
- Jan 31, 2008 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Summary of TANF Rules The final rules implementing changes in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program made by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 are scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on February 5, 2008; this summary is based on the pre-publication version made available for public inspection. Download PDF
- Oct 09, 2007 | Marcie Weadon-Moreno and Elizabeth Lower-Basch Analysis of Fiscal Year 2006 TANF and MOE Spending by States This Excel workbook shows how the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the nation as a whole spent the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grants and state Maintenance of Effort (MOE) funds in fiscal year 2006. Read Online | Download Spreadsheet
- Sep 03, 2007 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Opportunity at Work: Improving Job Quality This paper describes the state of job quality in the U.S. today and makes the case that improving job quality is a critical part of the agenda for reducing poverty, supporting families, rewarding effort, and expanding opportunity for all. Download PDF | Additional PDF
- Aug 31, 2007 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch A View from Low-Wage America - On Labor Day, Job Quality Cited as Key to Poverty Reduction In this podcast from the Fairness Initiative on Low-Wage Work, Elizabeth Lower-Basch discusses the report Opportunity at Work. Read Online
- May 18, 2007 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Improving Access to Education and Training for TANF Participants The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant is one of the major sources of funding for services designed to help low-income parents succeed in the workplace. The TANF law limits the degree to which states can count TANF families engaged in education and training activities toward federal work participation rate requirements--an unfortunate limitation, given the strong link between educational attainment and earnings. In this two-pager, CLASP recommends that Congress remove these arbitrary limits on education and training. Download PDF
- Mar 22, 2007 | Danielle Ewen, Elizabeth Lower-Basch, Julie Strawn, and Vicki Turetsky Congress Should Take Action to Restore Flexibility and Funding Lost in 2006 Welfare Reauthorization and HHS Regulations On March 6, 2007, the House Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support held a hearing on the changes made by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) to programs assisting low-income families. In this testimony for the record, we discuss some of the early effects of the DRA and proposed regulations on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, child care, and child support participants and programs and offer recommendations as to how Congress should respond. Download PDF
- Mar 13, 2007 | Abbey Frank, Elizabeth Lower-Basch, and Annette Case Where the Funds Are: The Use of FSET Funds for Workforce Training Programs Funding for workforce training programs is limited. Many of the traditional funding streams used to cover the costs of these programs have been cut, leaving administrators to think creatively about alternative funding sources. One possibility is the Food Stamp Employment and Training program (FSET), which supports employment and training services for food stamp participants. This policy brief provides an overview of the FSET program and funding streams and discusses ways that workforce training programs can access FSET funds to improve the employability of FSET participants. Download PDF
- Feb 01, 2007 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Family and Medical Leave Act: Response to Request for Information In December, the Department of Labor published a request for information concerning the implementation of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). In these comments, CLASP expresses support for continuing current policies to protect workers who need to take leave and argues for expanding FMLA to more workers and providing paid leave. Download PDF
- Jan 30, 2007 | CLASP and CBPP Implementing the TANF Changes in the DRA: "Win-Win" Solutions for Families and States, Second Edition This report from CLASP and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is intended to guide state administrators and advocates as they consider implementing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provisions of the 2006 federal budget, called the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA). This report has been updated to reflect the Interim Final Rule and guidance issued by HHS in response to states' Work Verification Plans. The report discusses the legal structure of the work participation requirements; strategies for improving and increasing engagement in programs; strategies for increasing support for working families (through increased earnings disregards, stand-alone "work supplement" programs, and child support distribution options) and helping states meet participation rates; disability laws and ways to improve the effectiveness of TANF-related programs for individuals with disabilities; and the fiscal implications of the TANF, child care, and child support provisions. To view/print specific chapters, visit http://www.cbpp.org/archiveSite/2-9-07tanf.htm Download PDF
- Jan 08, 2007 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Congress Should Take Action to Restore Flexibility Lost in 2006 Welfare Reauthorization and HHS Regulations The 2006 TANF reauthorization substantially increased effective work participation rates on states, and it limited state flexibility to individualize work requirements. HHS's interim regulations implementing this law included narrow definitions of the countable work activities, definitions that further restrict state flexibility to use a range of effective work-related activities. This paper outlines a series of changes that Congress should make to restore flexibility and encourage states to allow low-income families to participate in a range of activities that will improve their self-sufficiency. Download PDF
- Oct 05, 2006 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch Two-Thirds of States Qualify for Extended Counting of TANF Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance Under TANF rules, job search and job readiness assistance may only be counted toward the work participation rate for 6 weeks in a fiscal year; however this limit is extended to 12 weeks in high unemployment states and those qualifying as "needy" under the Contingency Fund provisions of the law. This provision gives eligible states some flexibility in providing activities that address barriers to employment and that are only countable toward meeting TANF participation rates under the job search/job readiness work activity as defined in the interim final regulations. Download PDF
- Oct 01, 2006 | Marcie Weadon-Moreno and Elizabeth Lower-Basch Analysis of Fiscal Year 2005 TANF and MOE Spending by States This Excel workbook shows how the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the nation as a whole spent the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grants and state Maintenance of Effort (MOE) funds in fiscal year 2005. Read Online | Download Spreadsheet
- Aug 28, 2006 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch, Rutledge Q. Hutson, Amy-Ellen Duke, and Julie Strawn Comments to HHS on the TANF Interim Final Rule These are CLASP's official comments to ACF on the interim final rule published in the Federal Register on June 29, 2006. These regulations implemented changes to TANF made as part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Download PDF
- Aug 10, 2006 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch, Amy-Ellen Duke and Allegra Baider Model Comments on TANF Interim Final Rule -- Workforce Development System These model comments on the interim final TANF regulations are focused on specific issues related to the definition of work activities and reporting requirements that are of interest to the workforce development community. Download PDF
- Aug 10, 2006 | Allegra Baider and Elizabeth Lower-Basch Model Comments on TANF Interim Final Rule -- Transitional Jobs These model comments on the interim final TANF regulations are focused on specific issues related to the definition of work activities and reporting requirements that are of interest to Transitional Jobs providers. Download PDF
- Aug 10, 2006 | Elizabeth Lower-Basch, Amy-Ellen Duke, and Allegra Baider Model Education and Training Comments on TANF Interim Final Rule These model comments on the interim final TANF regulations are focused on specific education and training issues related to the definition of work activities and reporting requirements. Download PDF
- May 16, 2006 | TANF 2006: CLASP- CBPP Series Earned Income Disregards and Income Supplements As states work to meet the new participation rate requirements while helping low-income families enter and sustain employment, many are considering expanding assistance to low-income families either through TANF or through stand-alone programs that provide income supplements to working families. This conference call highlights earned income disregards and supplements policies, and their impacts on employment outcomes for TANF recipients. Download Audio | Additional PDF