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The Earned Income Tax Credit: Current Issues and Benefit Amounts
The earned income tax credit (EITC), established in the tax code in 1975, offers cash aid to working parents with relatively low incomes who care for dependent children. The EITC is the only federal cash aid available to all working poor families with children. For eligible filers with income tax liability, the EITC reduces their taxes.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
This report provides background on the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP), originally established in 1981 by Title XXVI of P.L. 97-35 and reauthorized several times. It is a block grant program under which the federal government gives states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and commonwealths, and Indian tribal organizations (referred to as grantees) annual grants to operate multi-component home energy assistance programs for needy households.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
No Description Available.
Child Care Issues in the 106th Congress
This report documents the numerous child care policies by President Bill Clinton, going on to describe the difficulties in passing this type of legislation and the outcome of passing such policies.
Federal Assistance for Wildfire Response and Recovery
This report briefly discusses the options for federal support and assistance for areas affected by wildfire disaster including the period during wildfires, in the aftermath, and later for preventing a recurrence.
Budget Reconciliation FY2006: Provisions Affecting the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP)
The federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) is the rate at which states are reimbursed for most Medicaid service expenditures. The FY2006 budget reconciliation bills passed by the House (H.R. 4241) and Senate (S. 1932) include provisions that would affect state FMAPs for Medicaid in a number of ways. This report describes these provisions and estimates their impact on FY2006 FMAPs.
Medicaid Citizenship Documentation
Due to recent changes in federal law, individuals who declare that they are citizens for Medicaid eligibility purposes must present documentation that proves citizenship and documents personal identity. This report discusses issues related to Medicaid citizenship documentation that have received considerable media and interest group attention, as well as proposed legislation that would affect the requirement.
Medicaid: The Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP)
This report examines the formula that determines the federal government's share of Medicaid costs for most services, which is established in statute; states must contribute the remaining portion of costs in order to qualify for federal funds.
State Medicaid Program Administration: A Brief Overview
Medicaid is jointly financed by the federal and state governments, but each state designs and administers its own program within broad federal guidelines. This report provides a brief overview of the Medicaid program administration at the state level and includes information on organization, responsibilities, and expenditures. It also describes policy issues and proposals related to state Medicaid program administration that has attracted recent attention. It will be updated as legislative or other activity warrants.
Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA) Under Medicaid
Medicaid, a means-tested federal/state program that provides health care coverage to certain groups of individuals, requires that states continue Medicaid benefits for certain low-income families who would otherwise lose coverage because of changes in their income. This continuation of benefits is known as transitional medical assistance (TMA). The law permanently requires four months of TMA for families who lose Medicaid eligibility due to increased child or spousal support collections, as well as those who lose eligibility due to an increase in earned income or hours of employment. Congress expanded work-related TMA under Section 1925 of the Social Security Act as part of the Family Support Act of 1988, and states currently must provide TMA to families who lose Medicaid eligibility for work-related reasons for at least six, and up to 12, months.
Medicaid and SCHIP: FY2007 Budget Issues
This report provides information on Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) issues.
Medicaid and SCHIP: The President's FY2006 Budget Proposals
This report describes the proposal and provides an estimate of the cost or savings based on publicly available information. The report provides a brief background for the proposal and provides a listing of current Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports related to the proposal.
Teenage Sexual Activity and Childbearing: An Analysis of the Relationships of Behavior to Family and Personal Background
"This report uses the National Survey of Family Growth to examine the effects of a variety of social and economic factors on the likelihood that a teenage girl will be sexually active, will use contraceptives, and will bear a child...The report examines the differences in factors associated with these different behaviors for white and black as well as younger and older teens." (from Abstract)
Welfare Reform: Family Caps in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program
This report examines family cap policies implemented by states under the Temporary Assistance for Needy families (TANF) block grant program. This report describes family cap policies of the states and their plans to reduce nonmarital births, provides some background on the family cap approach, discusses findings from a couple of studies on the effect of family caps on childbearing, and describes some of the legal issues concerning family caps.
Welfare Reform: Competitive Grants in the Welfare-to-Work Grant Program
No Description Available.
Medicaid Issues for the 109th Congress
Medicaid is jointly financed by the federal and state governments, but each state designs and administers its own state program under broad federal guidelines. Accordingly, state variation in eligibility, covered services, and the delivery of, and reimbursement for, services is the rule rather than the exception. How is Congress to respond to the numerous proposals to move Medicaid forward into the near and long term? This report lays out some of these issues, explains the factors underlying them, and provides links to CRS products that can help Members of Congress and their staff prepare to discuss Medicaid’s role today and into the future.
Medicaid: A Fact Sheet
No Description Available.
Medicaid Disproportionate Share Payments
The Medicaid statute requires that states make disproportionate share (DSH) adjustments to the payment rates of certain hospitals treating large numbers of low-income and Medicaid patients — recognizing the disadvantaged situation of those hospitals. Although the requirement was established in 1981, DSH payments did not become a significant part of the program until after 1989 when they grew from just under $1 billion to almost $17 billion by 1992. During that time states’ Medicaid budgets were facing a number of upward pressures while states were learning about financing techniques that made it easier to collect increased DSH payments from the federal government.
Medicaid Eligibility for Adults and Children
Medicaid is a means-tested entitlement program that is largely designed and administered by states under broad federal rules. The programs are jointly financed by federal and state funds. Federal contributions to each state are based on a state’s willingness to finance covered medical services and a matching formula. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is responsible for federal oversight of the program. In FY2003, preliminary federal and state spending on Medicaid reached $275.5 billion, exceeding Medicare payments, net of premiums, by over $15 billion.
Medicaid Issues for the 109th Congress
This report provides background information for medicaid reforms and discuses proposals for reform.
Coverage of the TANF Population Under Medicaid and SCHIP
Health insurance is an important support for individuals receiving, leaving or diverted from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) welfare or cash assistance program for low-income families. Medicaid and SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program) are key vehicles for providing such coverage. While there is no formal link between TANF and either Medicaid or SCHIP, some TANF-eligibles, especially children, are likely to qualify for one of these programs. But state eligibility rules can be complex and often differ for parents versus children, leaving some parents, in particular, without coverage.
Coverage of the TANF Population Under Medicaid and SCHIP
Health insurance is an important support for individuals receiving, leaving or diverted from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) welfare or cash assistance program for low-income families. Medicaid and SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program) are key vehicles for providing such coverage. While there is no formal link between TANF and either Medicaid or SCHIP, some TANF-eligibles, especially children, are likely to qualify for one of these programs. But state eligibility rules can be complex and often differ for parents versus children, leaving some parents, in particular, without coverage.
The Link Between Medicaid and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Recent History and Current Issues
Congressional Research Service (CRS) report entailing, the recent history and current issues regarding the link between Medicaid and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Topics include, free and public education (FAPE), individualized education plans (IEP), individualized family service plans (IFSP), etc..
The Link Between Medicaid and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Recent History and Current Issues
Congressional Research Service (CRS) report entailing, the recent history and current issues regarding the link between Medicaid and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Topics include, free and public education (FAPE), individualized education plans (IEP), individualized family service plans (IFSP), etc..
Medicaid: A Primer
This report describes the basic elements of Medicaid, focusing on federal rules governing who is eligible, what services are covered, how the program is financed and how beneficiaries share in the cost, how providers are paid, and the role of special waivers in expanding eligibility and modifying benefits. The recently passed Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 or DRA, as amended by the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, included many provisions affecting Medicaid. DRA provides states with opportunities to make fundamental changes in Medicaid program design, including covered benefits and beneficiary cost-sharing. These and other major DRA changes are summarized here. Lastly, basic program statistics and citations to in-depth CRS reports on specific topics are provided.
Medicaid: A Primer
This report describes the basic elements of Medicaid, focusing on federal rules governing who is eligible, what services are covered, how the program is financed and how beneficiaries share in the cost, how providers are paid, and the role of special waivers in expanding eligibility and modifying benefits.
Medicaid Upper Payment Limits and Intergovernmental Transfers: Current Issues and Recent Regulatory and Legistlative Action
No Description Available.
Reaching Low-Income, Uninsured Children: Are Medicaid and SCHIP Doing the Job?
No Description Available.
How Medicaid Works: Program Basics
Medicaid is a means-tested entitlement program that has been in existence for over 35 years. It provides primary and acute care as well as long-term care to over 40 million Americans at a cost to federal and state governments of approximately $258.2 billion in FY2002. Of all federally supported social programs, only Medicare comes close to this level of spending, and only Social Security costs more.
How Medicaid Works - Program Basics
Medicaid is a means-tested entitlement program that has been in existence for over 35 years. It provides primary and acute care as well as long-term care to over 50 million Americans at a cost to federal and state governments of approximately $276.1 billion in FY2003. Of all federally supported social programs, only Medicare comes close to this level of spending, and only Social Security costs more.
Child Custody Proceedings Under The Indian Child Welfare Act: An Overview
This report provides an overview of some of the goals and provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act.
Federal Assistance for Wildfire Response and Recovery
This report briefly discusses the options for federal support and assistance for areas affected by wildfire disasters, including the period during wildfires, in the aftermath, and subsequently for preventing a recurrence.
Effects of Social Security Increases on Benefits From Other Programs
This report summarizes how certain cash and service benefit programs would be affected if Social Security cash benefits increased. Some of the programs mentioned include retirement programs, veteran benefits, food stamps, and housing programs.
Agencies Licensed for Inter-Country Adoption
This report provides a a listing of licensed foreign adoption assistance and liaison groups.
Guaranteed Income Proposals: Some Pro and Con Arguments
This report discusses pros and cons of guaranteed income proposals.
cash incentives to work under welfare programs
This report discusses in detail the information related to cash incentives and work incentive provisions under welfare programs.
Monetary Work Incentives Under the Original and Revised Family Assistance Plan Proposals as Illustrated in Tables Prepared by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
This report discusses the Family Assistance Plan (welfare program) and debates regarding work requirements for recipients of cash welfare payments. Tables of data regarding welfare programs in place and their work requirements versus the proposed changes to the bill are included.
New Approaches to Income Maintenance
This report discusses income maintenance programs and various proposals to reform the system.
Revised Social Services Regulations
This report provides a listing of welfare and social services regulations and discusses their legislative history.
Summary of Legislative Activity Related to Family Welfare Programs in the 91st and 92nd Congresses
This report is a chronological summary of major legislative activity during the 91st and 92nd Congress concerning family welfare and family assistance programs.
Summary of Provisions of H.R. 1 as Reported by the Senate Committee on Finance With Respect to Public Assistance and Employment Programs for Families with Children
This report provides a summary of the provisions of H.R. 1, the welfare-social security reform bill as they were reported to the Senate Committee on Finance.
The Effects of Government Expenditures and Revenues on the Economy and Economic Well-Being: A Cross-National Analysis
Congress passed and the President signed a reconciliation bill (P.L. 109-171) to reduce mandatory spending by $39 billion between FY2006 and FY2010. A revenue reduction reconciliation bill (H.R. 4297) has not been enacted as of the date of this report. Many argue that tax and spending reductions will stimulate economic growth, whereas many others argue that tax cuts will lead to a larger deficit with adverse economic effects and that spending cuts will reduce critical government services. This report examines the effects of government spending and taxation on economic growth and economic well-being by comparing the United States with 20 other industrial Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries.
The Welfare System and Welfare Reform: An Annotated Bibliography
This report is a bibliography compiled to explain the welfare system in the United States at the time of creation.
H.R. 1--Welfare Reform Provisions (A Selection of Statements and Articles)
This report discusses welfare reform provisions in H.R. 1 and provides materials discussing various opinions and analyses of the proposals published in newspapers and magazines.
The Welfare System and Welfare Reform, An Annotated Bibliography
This report is a bibliography created to explain present systems and changes in the realm of welfare and public assistance in the United States.
An Introduction to the Design of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
This report discusses the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which is a federal provision that reduces the income tax liability of taxpayers claiming the credit. These taxpayers are typically investors in real estate development projects that have traded cash for the tax credits to support the production of affordable housing. The credit is intended to lower the financing costs of housing developments so that the rental prices of units can be lower than market rates, and thus, presumably, affordable.
An Introduction to the Design of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
This report discusses the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which is a federal provision that reduces the income tax liability of taxpayers claiming the credit. These taxpayers are typically investors in real estate development projects that have traded cash for the tax credits to support the production of affordable housing. The credit is intended to lower the financing costs of housing developments so that the rental prices of units can be lower than market rates, and thus, presumably, affordable.
Chronology and Brief Description of Federal Food Assistance Legislation, 1935-1983
Since 1935 when Congress first approved the donation of agricultural surplus commodities to low-income populations and school lunch programs, some 57 laws have been passed creating and revising Federal food assistance programs. This report is a chronology of these laws. It briefly describes the major provisions which have led to the network of Federal food assistance programs we know today-- the food stamp program, school lunch and breakfast programs, summer food and child care food programs, special and commodity supplemental food programs for women, infants and children (WICa nd CSFP), elderly nutrition programs, and commodity donation programs.
An Introduction to the Design of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
This report discusses the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which is a federal provision that reduces the income tax liability of taxpayers claiming the credit. These taxpayers are typically investors in real estate development projects that have traded cash for the tax credits to support the production of affordable housing. The credit is intended to lower the financing costs of housing developments so that the rental prices of units can be lower than market rates, and thus, presumably, affordable.
An Introduction to the Design of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
This report discusses the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which is a federal provision that reduces the income tax liability of taxpayers claiming the credit. These taxpayers are typically investors in real estate development projects that have traded cash for the tax credits to support the production of affordable housing. The credit is intended to lower the financing costs of housing developments so that the rental prices of units can be lower than market rates, and thus, presumably, affordable.
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