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THIS is exactly why I never pay my servants. I don't want them to be burdened with qualifying for membership in the communist party.
Workers urged to access benefits
Struggling low-wage workers in New York State could possibly double their incomes if they were aware of and applied for all of the benefits and entitlements for which they are eligible, according to the commissioner of the state’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
David A. Hansell was a member of a panel Thursday exploring how low-wage workers could leverage their incomes and how the state could make that process easier for them.
The panelists from various state departments were all members of Gov. David A. Paterson’s Economic Security Cabinet which, at Paterson’s direction, is convening 13 regional town hall meetings across the state to explain how the state is streamlining the process to connect low-wage workers with crucial benefits and services and to solicit public comment on its efforts.
“If people actually receive all the benefits and entitlements that they deserve and are eligible for, that can have a tremendously powerful effect in stretching a paycheck,” said Hansell during the meeting held in the auditorium of the Erie Community College City Campus.
For example, he noted, a worker earning the federal minimum wage of $8.50 an hour is not even earning poverty level wages for a family of three. However, if such a worker could add Food Stamps, Earned Income Tax Credits and child support, as well as other entitlements and tax credits, it could have the effect of almost doubling his or her income.
“So, it’s not just the income of a family we need to look at, but also the benefits they could get if we make sure that they get them,” said Hansell.
Struggling low-wage workers in New York State could possibly double their incomes if they were aware of and applied for all of the benefits and entitlements for which they are eligible, according to the commissioner of the state’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
David A. Hansell was a member of a panel Thursday exploring how low-wage workers could leverage their incomes and how the state could make that process easier for them.
The panelists from various state departments were all members of Gov. David A. Paterson’s Economic Security Cabinet which, at Paterson’s direction, is convening 13 regional town hall meetings across the state to explain how the state is streamlining the process to connect low-wage workers with crucial benefits and services and to solicit public comment on its efforts.
“If people actually receive all the benefits and entitlements that they deserve and are eligible for, that can have a tremendously powerful effect in stretching a paycheck,” said Hansell during the meeting held in the auditorium of the Erie Community College City Campus.
For example, he noted, a worker earning the federal minimum wage of $8.50 an hour is not even earning poverty level wages for a family of three. However, if such a worker could add Food Stamps, Earned Income Tax Credits and child support, as well as other entitlements and tax credits, it could have the effect of almost doubling his or her income.
“So, it’s not just the income of a family we need to look at, but also the benefits they could get if we make sure that they get them,” said Hansell.
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