Comment Against Changing the Poverty Line

from Coalition on Human Needs:

Right now, the Trump Administration is trying to quietly change the way we define poverty. Each year the poverty line—the income amount that defines who is and isn’t in poverty—is adjusted for inflation. The poverty line is extremely important since it’s used to determine eligibility for assistance that those living in or near poverty need to survive. Think help for groceries, health care, and home heating to prevent threats to health and safety for low-income families or seniors. And remember that millions of moderate-income people qualify for health insurance premium subsidies if their incomes are between 100 percent and 400 percent of the poverty line.

The Trump Administration is trying to use a different way to calculate inflation that would be lower than the one we use now. And while that change wouldn’t be obvious right away, over the years hundreds of thousands of Americans would be defined out of poverty without any meaningful change to their financial situation. And millions of children, working people, retirees, and people with disabilities would have their benefits reduced or would get kicked off assistance entirely. Women with children and people of color would be hit disproportionately hard because they are far more likely to be poor.

While the Trump Administration is claiming that they are just trying to make the way of calculating inflation more accurate, there is research that shows the cost of necessities low-income people buy rises at a faster rate than all goods and services. So by using a method that shrinks inflation, they will deny assistance to people who really need it.

That’s why we need your help.

The Office of Management and Budget within the Trump White House is soliciting comments on this potential change right now. This change would affect people who need Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, school meals, LIHEAP, and many other programs. That's why comments submitted on behalf of organizations such as advocacy groups and service providers, or by experts, are especially important.

Your comment matters. It’s critical for the Trump Administration to see there is wide-spread concern with how changing the poverty line could hurt millions of people. And once you’ve sent your comment, we will follow up with another action so you can write your members of Congress, telling them you’ve submitted a comment and you expect them to take action against these changes.

Here's how to leave a comment:

1. To comment on behalf of your organization, or as an expert, with a detailed comment: Use CHN's portal at this link.

2. To comment as a member of the general public: Use CHN's portal at this link.