Latest news with #lowincomefamilies
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Food vouchers for North Northamptonshire paused due to demand
One-off supermarket vouchers have been paused by a council due to a high demand in Northamptonshire Council said they had paused new applications for a three- week period due to a large number of people applying since 23 families, pensioners, and people with disabilities were able to apply, with the amount dependent on the size of the household. Gregory Wilcox, Reform UK councillor and executive member for communities at the authority, said: "The Household Support Fund (HSF) applications are currently paused due to high demand and to enable our staff to work through the existing waiting list." The vouchers were funded by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and were available due to the seventh tranche of the HSF.A single person could apply for a £150 voucher, a two-person household £260 and a household with three people or more £320. It comes as prices rose by more than expected in the year to June, pushing inflation to 3.6% in UK, the highest it has been since January prices for food and clothing, air and rail fares - and a lower drop in fuel prices than this time last year - contributed to higher inflation, official figures Wilcox added: "This means new applications may not be accepted immediately while the authority processes existing requests and manage their allocated funds."The authority said residents who had applied for the "wider essentials support" since 23 June did not need to apply Northamptonshire Council said applications were expected to take two months to process and would be dealt with in order of the date they were were due to re-open on 4 August. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
CBS News
17-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Colorado child care assistance program freeze continues to put families at risk
A statewide freeze on Colorado's Child Care Assistance Program is leaving thousands of families without support and forcing providers to absorb significant financial losses. Advocates warn the freeze could last for years unless federal action is taken. At Warren Village Early Learning Center in Denver, president and CEO Ethan Hemming said the nonprofit has lost between $27,000 and $40,000 in revenue since April due to the halt in CCAP enrollments. "That's revenue we would typically receive from CCAP," said Hemming. The freeze began Jan. 1 and prevents new families from accessing the child care subsidy program, which helps low-income families afford licensed child care. The funding freeze stems from a combination of new federal regulations and the expiration of COVID-era relief funds. In 2024, the federal government implemented new rules requiring states to increase provider reimbursement rates and limit family copayments to no more than 7% of income, goals widely supported by the child care industry. But the regulations came with no additional federal funding, leaving states like Colorado with a shortfall. According to Dawn Alexander, executive director of the Early Childhood Education Association of Colorado, the state now faces a $48 million annual gap due to the unfunded mandate. "Right now, about 50% of community-based programs aren't financially sustainable," Alexander said. "If counties can't serve low-income families through CCAP, it's devastating -- and it's going to get exponentially worse." The association estimates that 7,500 children currently cannot be placed in child care due to a lack of funding. Alexander said Colorado would need at least $20 million in additional annual funding to meet current market rates and serve more families. "Unless the federal rules are rescinded, we won't be able to lift these freezes for three to five years -- maybe even 10," she said. For working parents like Genesis Zambrana, a teacher and parent at Warren Village, the CCAP freeze has created growing anxiety. "There's this constant stress and uncertainty," Zambrana said. "It feels like a snowball effect." The Colorado Department of Early Childhood says that these federal changes are good for families who already have access to the program by decreasing their co-pay cost to participate and will support better payment practices for child care providers by reimbursing for the true cost of child care and mirroring certain private pay practices. "Congress has not increased federal funding to pay for these new requirements, which were implemented after the stimulus funding was used. Unfortunately, without additional federal funding, the only way the program can afford the increased costs is to decrease the total number of families served," said the CDEC in a prepared statement. The department requires counties to implement a CCAP freeze to track, and report waitlisted families. That data is made public monthly on the department's website. The Early Childhood Education Association has submitted formal comments to the federal government, requesting deregulation or additional funding, but there's no timeline for a response.
South China Morning Post
14-07-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong urged to expand carer support scheme to cover other vulnerable groups
A Hong Kong pilot scheme to identify hidden cases of at-risk carers should be expanded to also cover other low-income families and subdivided flat tenants, a social worker and a district councillor have urged, as a new database to address the issue began operation. The first part of the government initiative began at 9am on Monday and will see the Hospital Authority send daily alerts to the Social Welfare Department if any carers among the 8,000 to 9,000 households listed in the database have been hospitalised. The department would then check on the needs of the elderly or disabled person being cared for and offer them support, such as meal deliveries or respite services. The scheme was set up after a series of tragedies related to the increasing burden placed on carers' shoulders, with most cases involving single older people living alone and elderly couples who took care of each other. Social worker Crystal Yuen Shuk-yan cited concerns about possible time lags and questioned whether the alerts from the authority to the department would be prompt enough. 'If a carer was hospitalised during the day but authorities only receive an alert the next morning, wouldn't it be a long period of time where their dependents do not receive food or care?' she said on a radio programme on Monday.
CTV News
13-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Backpack Program applications now open in Grey-Bruce
New backpacks seen on Sept. 6, 2022. (File photo) The United Way of Bruce Grey is now accepting applications for their annual Backpack Program. Backpacks are filled with grade-appropriate school essentials. To apply, you can call or text '211' to speak to someone who will guide you through the process. This program is available for low-income families across Grey and Bruce Counties. In 2024, the Backpack Program helped 2,686 students between Kindergarten and Grade 12. Since the program began in 2005, 37,964 backpacks have been distributed. For more details on how to register, or if you'd like to donate, you can visit their website.
CNET
20-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
What Is the Lifeline Program? Find Out if You Qualify for Discounts on Your Home Internet Bill
Finding low-cost internet is becoming increasingly more difficult with rising prices and decreased support for low-income families. The Affordable Connectivity Program was shuttered in June 2024, leaving 23 million Americans without a low-cost internet option, over half of whom were veterans. The ACP, which offered a sizable credit of $30 to $75 for home internet costs, effectively helped bridge the gap in internet connectivity in its two-and-a-half years of operation. Congress has yet to pass a comparable program or a low-cost requirement for ISPs (except for our friends in New York State), but households looking to save may still have more than one option to help ease the costs of monthly internet bills. Lifeline, a federal government program initially created to make phone service affordable, is one such viable option. What is the Lifeline program? Lifeline began in 1985 to make phone service more affordable for low-income families. It provides a monthly benefit of $9.25 to offset those costs, while eligible individuals and families on tribal lands may receive up to $34.25. While Lifeline still covers traditional landline and wireless plans, the program was expanded in 2016 to include home broadband service. A home internet discount can help you stay tethered to job prospects, schooling opportunities, family services and emergency care. While the Lifeline program is available to consumers nationwide, eligibility is limited to low-income families and individuals. CNET can walk you through what you need to know to determine if you qualify. Qualifying for Lifeline can open the door for further discounts offered by internet providers or your state, but we'll get into that later. Let's explore the specific eligibility requirements for Lifeline and how you can apply today. Locating local internet providers Am I eligible for Lifeline? Lifeline is available across the US, but not everyone can benefit. Lifeline was intended to assist low-income households and individuals in staying connected to school, work, play, utilities, health care and other social services. To participate, at least one household member must meet the program requirements. You may be eligible if anyone in your home currently participates in the following government assistance plans: Federal Public Housing Assistance Medicaid Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Supplemental Security Income Tribal-specific programs (Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations and Head Start) Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit Programs Even if you do not participate in any of the above programs, you might also be eligible for Lifeline based on your income. It's worth noting that your household will qualify if your income is less than or equal to 135% of the 2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines as seen below. James Martin/CNET Lifeline program qualification: Total income No. of people in the household (48 states and Washington DC) (Alaska) (Hawaii) 1 $21,128 $26,393 $24,287 2 $28,553 $35,681 $32,832 3 $35,978 $44,969 $41,378 4 $43,403 $54,257 $49,923 5 $50,828 $63,545 $58,469 6 $58,253 $72,833 $67,014 7 $65,678 $82,121 $75,560 8 $73,103 $91,409 $84,105 Show more (3 items) Shop providers at my address Once you get over eight people, add $5,500 to the last amount listed for each additional individual. Also, the numbers are slightly higher for folks living in Alaska and Hawaii, as you can see above. In Alaska, you should add $6,880 to the final amount listed for each individual beyond eight. Consumers living in Hawaii should add $6,330 for each individual beyond eight. What paperwork or documents do I need? Whether you sign up online or complete your application process by mail, you'll need to gather several documents to help verify your eligibility. In almost all cases, you'll need statements dated within the past 12 months. Acceptable documentation includes (but isn't limited to): Proof of income (some options are a current pay stub, a Social Security statement of benefits or a tax return). Note: If the paperwork does not cover a full income year, it must reflect three consecutive months. Proof of program participation (including a notice letter of participation or statement of benefits). In some cases, you may need to send additional documentation showing proof of identity (Social Security number, driver's license, W-2, etc.). Keep these documents and make copies to send. The complete list of acceptable documents is available online via the Lifeline Support Center. How do I apply for Lifeline? For the most part, you can apply for Lifeline broadband benefits online through the Lifeline National Verifier, an application system set up by the Federal Communications Commission and run by the Universal Service Administrative Company. You can go to the site, enter your name, address and identifying information and begin the process of qualifying for benefits. The two exceptions are Oregon and Texas. Applicants from those regions must go through their states' specific application you prefer, you can also choose to apply by mail. You will need to print out an application (a PDF is available on the USAC site), complete it and send copies (make sure you keep all your original paperwork -- send duplicates only) of all required documents to USAC, Lifeline Support Center, PO Box 1000, Horseheads, NY 14845. You can also request that an application be mailed to you. To do so, either email LifelineSupport@ or call Lifeline at 800-234-9473. Once you start your application for Lifeline, you have 45 days to complete the process. Additionally, once you qualify for Lifeline, you'll have 90 days to either sign up for service with an internet company or apply your Lifeline benefit to your current broadband provider. What other programs can I use? You've just been accepted for Lifeline and now get the $9.25 benefit on your internet service, which is excellent. Many internet service providers can offer additional low-cost plans to eligible customers, but you'll have to enter your details to see if you qualify. Here are just a few of the ISPs that offer discounted internet service: This is not an exhaustive list of all providers that offer cheap residential broadband. Check out CNET's state-by-state low-income internet guide to find out what affordable internet programs are available in your area. With the ACP over, head to your state to check out what low-income options are available for your can also check out our best internet deals for seniors and best student internet discounts. Any other things to consider? There is only one Lifeline benefit permitted per household. If you choose to use the discount on your home internet, you cannot get an additional discount on phone service. You must choose one or the other. Also, eligible people must recertify their eligibility yearly to continue receiving the Lifeline discount. Failure to do so will result in the subscriber getting disqualified for further assistance until eligibility has been reestablished. You can switch your internet provider whenever you choose, but you'll also have to reapply for the benefit. If you have questions regarding the Lifeline program, you can email LifelineSupport@ or call the Lifeline Support Center at 800-234-9473. Lifeline FAQs What is the Lifeline program? The Lifeline program was established in 1985 and is geared toward low-income households. Lifeline offers monthly discounts for phone and home internet services. Eligible individuals may receive a monthly credit of $9.25 for their internet and those who reside on tribal lands may receive up to $34.25. You can apply for Lifeline's broadband benefits through its online application form, the Lifeline National Verifier. Another option would be to print out an application and mail it along with your other documents to USAC, Lifeline Support Center, PO Box 7081, London, KY 40742. Is the Lifeline program ending? Although the Affordable Connectivity Program ended in May 2024, the Lifeline program is still running. It's been available since 1985, and though there have been many cuts and layoffs in the federal government lately, there are no current indications that Lifeline is in peril. Did Lifeline start during the COVID-19 pandemic? No, Lifeline has been around since 1985. It first started as a means to get affordable phone service to low-income families. Home internet service began to be included when the program's scope was expanded in 2016. The coronavirus pandemic helped bring the program to greater light, but it existed well before that time. Can anyone participate in Lifeline? While Lifeline is available in all 50 states, it is aimed toward helping low-income families and individuals. Not everyone will be able to sign up. To qualify for Lifeline, you must meet the eligibility requirements, which range from participation in specific government assistance programs to a household income less than or equal to 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
