Feds may drop poverty level [View All]

[cali]

By DANIEL BARLOW Vermont Press Bureau - Published: December 15, 2009

MONTPELIER – The federal government's poverty level guidelines will drop in 2010 for possibly the first time ever, changing the qualifications for a host of programs ranging from state-subsidized health insurance to food stamps.

The reduction in what the federal government considers poverty could result in Vermonters either losing benefits they now receive or seeing a decrease in their subsidies depending on their annual household income.

For example, for a single person to qualify for a state or federal program that covers up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level they would need to make less than $906 a month. Starting next year, that benchmark changes to $899 a month for a single person.

Seven dollars may not seem like a dramatic shift, but the gap increases for larger families, according to Peter Sterling, the executive director of the organization Vermont Campaign for Health Care Security.

Sterling said the decrease in what the federal government considers poverty could have low-to-moderate income Vermonters paying more for their services or suddenly discovering they make too much to apply for help they are getting now.

"This will impact everything from food stamps to home heating fuel assistance," said Sterling. "How many people are making 299 percent of the federal poverty level and will soon find out that they no longer qualify for services?"

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http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/BT/20091215/NEWS01/912150361/0/NEWS02