Public Benefits
Public benefits kept 44 million out of poverty in 2017 according to data from the Census Bureau with Social Security responsible for keeping 27 million people above the line on its own. Given the enormous importance of these programs, figuring out how best they should be structured to assist those in hardship and encourage opportunity is a crucial question.This section of the Spotlight website gathers the latest research, news, and opinion around government benefits and programs.
Related News
Trump Administration Investigates Medicaid Spending on Immigrants in Blue States
“The Trump administration is taking its immigration crackdown to the health care safety net, launching Medicaid spending probes in at least six Democratic-led states that provide comprehensive health coverage to poor and disabled immigrants living in the U.S. without permanent legal status.
Immigration Raids Push Immigrants to Telehealth
“Jacob Sweidan has seen his patients through the federal immigration raids of the 1990s, a sitting governor’s call to abolish birthright citizenship, and the highly publicized workplace crackdowns and family separation policies of President Donald Trump’s first term.
Proponent of Medicaid Cuts Set to Brief House GOP
“An influential group of House Republicans has invited a chief architect of the hard-right push for deep Medicaid spending cuts to brief congressional aides Thursday as GOP leaders quietly map out a possible second party-line reconciliation package.
Colorado Hopes Last-Minute Bill Will Ease Sting of Medicaid Changes
“Colorado is hoping a just-under-the-wire application to the federal government will help soften the blow of Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the recently signed tax and spending measure.
Veterans' Care At Risk As Doctors and Nurses Leave VA In Droves
“Veterans hospitals are struggling to replace hundreds of doctors and nurses who have left the health care system this year as the Trump administration pursues its pledge to simultaneously slash Department of Veterans Affairs staff and improve care.
Medicaid Cuts Threaten Pregnancy Services in Rural America
“When there’s a maternal health emergency, Jessica Wheat springs into action.
New Federal Medicaid Work Requirements Mean Less Leeway for States
“When President Donald Trump signed a law adding work requirements for some Medicaid recipients, he may have undercut lawmakers in at least 14 states who were designing their own plans, according to health industry observers.
Six More States Ban Junk Food From SNAP Benefits
Six more states have banned junk food purchases from being bought with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced.
SNAP Linked to Slower Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
“Adults who participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, experienced slightly slower cognitive decline over the course of a decade than those who were eligible for the program but did not enroll in it. That’s according to new research presented Wednesday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.
