fbpx
Connect with us

Mississippi News

Welfare recipients get $1,000 boost during holidays

Published

on

Mississippi welfare recipients get $1,000 boost during holidays

The roughly 1,500 families receiving welfare in Mississippi, the poorest state in the nation, will see a $1,000 boost just in time for the holiday season.

Though more than 200,000 families in poverty in Mississippi, less than 1% of them actually the benefit because of strict rules around who receives cash assistance.

The monthly check is relatively low — just $260 for a of three — so the state only spends about 5% of the $86.5 million it receives for welfare each year on cash assistance for low-income families.

Advertisement

The federal fund that supplies cash welfare, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), was also the target of a massive alleged theft scheme and broad mismanagement in recent years. Four people arrested in February of 2020, including the former director of Mississippi Department of Human Services, which administers the aid, still await trial in what official have called the largest public embezzlement case in state history. Two others have pleaded guilty.

The current agency director Bob Anderson says he's improving internal controls to make sure that the agency's funds are used to help people and not wasted.

The agency started sending out the one-time $1,000 boost to TANF recipients on Dec. 17 and the money should reach each family's Way2Go debit card by Christmas. The additional money came from the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund, a $4.7 million appropriation from the federal authorized last March. The additional payments this month total about $1.5 million.

In a release, Mississippi Department of Human Services announced that families who become newly eligible for TANF in 2022 may be able to receive the additional $1,000 as long as funds are still available. TANF has a five-year maximum time limit.

Advertisement

“We are grateful for the opportunity to more cash assistance to needy Mississippi families,” Anderson said in a release. “We know that many families are still struggling to meet their basic needs, and this assistance will help them this holiday season.”

Anderson successfully requested legislation during the 2021 to increase the amount of TANF payments, which hadn't been increased in two decades and were the lowest of any state, by $90.

His agency also recently changed an internal policy that allows parents who receive TANF to keep the first $100 of their child support payments, whereas before the state would intercept the funds to pay itself back for the cash assistance it administered.

But even with the new administration, fewer and fewer Mississippians are receiving the payments as the welfare rolls have been steadily dropping for years. In 2019, the number of low-income families receiving the aid each month ranged from about 2,900 to just over 4,000. In 2021, the number was as low as 1,549.

Advertisement

Mississippians may apply for TANF here. People who receive notice of their eligibility but do not receive the additional payment this week should contact their local county DHS office, the department said in its release.

Gov. Tate Reeves also recently announced that all state-employed law enforcement would receive a one-time $1,000 bonus. The payments, funded by COVID-19 relief funds, are classified as hazard pay.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Mississippi News

Mostly clear through Easter weekend – Home – WCBI TV

Published

on

www.wcbi.com – Ashleigh Bryant – 2024-03-28 18:26:14

SUMMARY: Clear conditions are expected to continue through the end of the in Columbus, Mississippi. Temperatures will drop into the 30s on Thursday night with possible patchy frost. Friday will bring more sunshine with high temperatures in the low to middle 70s. The will see temperatures pushing towards 80 degrees with no rain expected. Next week, warm and humid will flow into the Deep South, with a of scattered showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday. It is still uncertain if these storms will be severe, but it is being monitored closely.

Read the full article

The post Mostly clear through Easter weekend – Home – WCBI TV appeared first on www.wcbi.com

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Mississippi News

Women-led organization hosts workshop at Yokohama

Published

on

www.wcbi.com – Eric Lampkin – 2024-03-28 17:57:25

SUMMARY: Yokohama's Point plant hosted a workshop called “Pathways to Financial Wellness” organized by WHEELS, a group empowering women in supervision. Dr. Becky Smith led discussions on various financial topics, emphasizing the importance of understanding financial behaviors and setting realistic goals. Yokohama focuses on empowering individuals holistically to improve overall quality. The Human Resources Director highlighted the company's efforts to opportunities for employees to enhance their work and professional lives. The workshop aimed to women gain better control over their personal, , and work-related finances. The holistic approach taken by Yokohama ties financial well-being to overall personal .

Read the full article

The post Women-led organization hosts workshop at Yokohama appeared first on www.wcbi.com

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Mississippi News

USDA issues disaster designation for all Mississippi counties

Published

on

www.wjtv.com – Delesha – 2024-03-28 16:43:41

SUMMARY: All counties in Mississippi have been designated as USDA disaster due to the 2023 drought, making farmers eligible for Farm Service Agency Loan Assistance. This emergency loan can be used to offset losses from the previous year's drought, such as hay or equipment. Despite the good growing season for ryegrass, many farmers have depleted their hay reserves. Farmers in Mississippi have an eight-month window to apply for the loan. This assistance aims to farmers recover from the drought and ensure adequate resources for the upcoming year.

Read the full article

The post USDA issues disaster designation for all Mississippi counties appeared first on www.wjtv.com

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News from the South

Trending