in
this issue...
INCOME BUDGETING & PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
Health watch: LEAD POISONING
we need your help
Budgeting Tips
maggie’s corner
Dandelion of the Month
INCOME BUDGETING
& PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
Many recipients who are working in their own jobs get to keep more money in their pockets at the end of each month. This means that DSS will only take into account a portion of a person’s earned income when figuring out the new grant amount.
Here’s how it works:
If a person who has a minor child in her home begins working, the first $90 per month is disregarded (deducted) from her gross wages. Then, an additional 45% of the remaining earned income will be disregarded. For example:
Ms. Beasley works 25 hours per week at $5.50 per hour and earns gross income of $595.00 per month (DSS multiplies 4.33 times the weekly amount in order to figure out monthly income.) But because of the new law and after application of the "disregards", DSS will only count $278.00 per month as income (even though she makes $595.00 per month. ) Here’s why:
$595 gross income
- 90 disregard
505
-227 (45% of $505) disregard
$278 countable income
Ms. Beasley has two children. In a typical case, Ms. Beasley’s public assistance grant would be $550.00 (the Standard of Need for a family of three.)
The $278.00 in countable income will then be subtracted from the Standard of Need of $550.00 to determine what her cash grant will be. Here, she will get $272.00 a month in cash assistance.
So, instead of Ms. Beasley getting $550.00 per month in cash assistance, she now gets $272.00 in cash assistance per month BUT she will also keep all of her wages from employment ($595.00) bringing her monthly total to $867.00.
The final outcome is that Ms. Beasley now has approximately $317 extra in her pocket each month because she works at a private job.
Other important things to know:
1. The $90 and the 45% disregards only apply to earned income (not unearned income such as Unemployment Insurance, Social Security disability, Veterans benefits, etc.)
2. The 45% disregard only applies when budgeting income for Family Assistance or to any family with a dependent child applying for or receiving Safety Net Assistance.
3. For all other Safety Net cases, the 45% disregard is not applicable and only the $90 disregard applies.
4. Whether an individual receives $500 per month or $1.00 per month in cash assistance, s/he is considered a recipient of public assistance. Each month that an individual receives any amount of cash assistance, even $1.00, that counts against their five-year family assistance limit whether they are working or not.
5. The 45% disregard does not apply to people who voluntarily quit a job, fail to report wages or refuse to accept a job.
6. If a person begins working and she only gets a small cash grant, this may affect her ability to have her rent or gas put on voucher. If you have any questions, please call our office.
7. The Department of Social Services must not begin budgeting earned income until the initial paycheck is actually received.
For example: Ms. Green found a job and will begin work on September 15th. She has been informed by her employer that she will be paid every two weeks and she will get her first paycheck on October 4th. Ms. Green contacts her worker, Ms. Smith. Ms. Smith must wait until Ms. Green "actually" gets paid before she can adjust Ms. Smith’s public assistance grant for October 16th . She must also provide Ms. Green with timely notice of the change in her grant.
The changes in the law help you keep more of your money. But figuring out how wages will affect your particular grant can be confusing. If you have any questions or would like to come in for an individualized budget counseling session, please call us at 847-0650 x 402.
Health Watch: Lead Poisoning
Lead is a dangerous poison. After it enters your body, it stays in your blood for weeks, then enters your bones where it can stay for your lifetime.
According to the NYS Department of Health, lead poisoning harms thousands of children every year. Lead can cause liver damage, mental retardation, kidney disease, blindness, and can even kill your child.
The good news is, lead poisoning can be treated - - but the best protection is to prevent lead poisoning in the first place.
PREVENT LEAD POISONING AND PROTECT YOUR CHILD
*Young children should get tested for lead regularly.
*Wash your child’s hands and your own hands often to wash off any lead dust you might have on your hands.
*Wash your child’s toys often, especially teething toys that your infant sucks on.
*Serve meals high in iron and calcium to protect your children from absorbing lead.
*Wipe down dusty surfaces with a damp cloth or mop regularly.
*If you work in a place that has lead, shower and change your clothes before you go home. *Wash your work clothes separately.
HOW DO CHILDREN GET POISONED BY LEAD?
*Paint off walls, windows, or stair railings in buildings built before the mid 70’s (when lead paint was used) is the most common way that children become poisoned by lead.
*Children eat lead paint chips, breathe in dust with lead paint particles in it or put items dusted with lead in their mouths.
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF YOUR CHILD IS SUFFERING FROM LEAD POISONING?
*The most common signs of lead poisoning are: headaches, stomachaches, paleness, crankiness or change of appetite.
*Obviously, these signs can easily be mistaken for other childhood problems. The best way to tell is by a blood test.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS SUFFERING FROM LEAD POISONING?
*SEE A DOCTOR. She will decide on the best treatment.
*It is also important to remove the source of lead in a safe way, so that you can stop the
lead poisoning.
HOW TO GET HELP IN ERIE COUNTY
*You can contact the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
at 885-0800 if you have a child under 6 who you believe has been exposed to lead
poisoning.
*You can also contact the Western New York Lead Poisoning Prevention Resource Center at
898-3363 or 3364 which is a clinic that specializes in treatment and education.
*The NLS Housing Unit at 847-0650 takes some lead cases. Call at 9am to speak to an advocate.
MAGGIE’S
What’s New?
Project Dandelion took it on the road!! A few of us visited Buffalo Pre-Natal and talked about Project Dandelion and Welfare Reform.Did you know that Maggie helped at least 450 people at the front door of the Rath Building this year alone?
Darlene has been helping the homeless. For the last few months, Darlene has held Dandelion meetings on site at both Cornerstone and the Salvation Army. Way to go, Darlene. Special thanks to Ron Hager, Ruth Christie, Millie Nieves and Lorne Marshall for sharing their expertise at the Tuesday Meetings
HAVING PROBLEMS BALANCING YOUR BUDGET? HERE’S SEVERAL TIPS FROM CCC:
1. Spend time every week on your budget and review it
frequently
2. Make necessary changes
3. Stick to it
4. Be realistic
5. Keep it simple
6. Be aware that changes and sacrifices are needed during difficult times
7. Set goals
8. Live within your means
9. Forget about keeping up with the Joneses (the Browns, or the Smiths, etc.)
10. Use coupons for shopping
11. Use a grocery shopping list
12. Keep a small calculator with you to keep track of totals
13. Pack a lunch
14. Quit Smoking (You’ll be rich!)
15. Shop for best values
16. NO, NO, NO IMPULSE BUYING!
Donna Huber
November’s Inspirational Dandelion of the Month
Severe Dyslexia, Severe Attention Deficit Disorder, and Central Auditory Processing Disorder were no match for this Dandelion. She pressed right through these obstacles with confidence, courage, and a bulldozer-like determination. She’s a woman who loves challenges. Just give her a reason to prove you wrong, and she’s all for it. This Dandelion describes herself as a cat with nine lives because she always lands on her feet, despite the challenge. "I just won’t die." Donna says jokingly. It’s that kind of perseverance that makes Donna Huber our Dandelion of the month.
Donna Huber is a single mom. She is divorced and has two children. She knows the struggle of raising children alone since she has been doing so for the past 11 years. Like Donna, her children have their own set of obstacles to overcome. Her son Dean has a respiratory condition, and suffers with severe allergies. Her daughter Rebecca, like Donna, has the same learning disabilities. Through all of this, Donna has earned an Associates Degrees from Erie Community College and Village Maria College in Liberal Arts, Interior Design and Photography. In addition, Donna will be earning her Bachelors Degree in Photography in December. "It was not easy. I had to take out major student loans to help pay for food, clothing, school supplies and child care." However, Donna says her children made it all worthwhile. "Sure, I was scared at first–but there were those who said I would never amount to anything. I had to prove them all to be liars–so now they are. I have organizations like Project Dandelion to thank fr helping me along with way."
Donna heard about Project Dandelion while attending Erie Community College. Jane Landry, who was Project Director during that time, was doing an in-service regarding getting off of public assistance and staying off. Although Donna was not on public assistance at the time, she was receiving food stamps and medicaid and depended largely on child support to make ends meet. Much of the information still applied to her because the bottom line was to be free from social services, completely. Donna decided to sign up for Budget Counseling, the goal of which is to decrease unnecessary expenses and look for ways to increase income. Donna was able to obtain a budget designed specifically to meet her needs. Even though Donna did not have much to work with, she still managed to stay afloat. "I learned a lot through Project Dandelion. I was able to pass on information to others who really needed it. When you’re poor, you need to know your options–to know the best way to take. When I learned what my options wee, I was not afraid to work. Project Dandelion talked me into taking my present job."
Donna now works for the Department of Justice in the U.S. Attorneys Office. She loves her job, but now has to miss many of our meetings. "At Dandelion meetings, I was able to obtain the legal advice I needed. There are no attorneys poor people can contact who can give them legal advice besides free legal services offices. Poor people are busy struggling to make ends meet. There is no way we could add paying for legal advice to our budget."
People ask Donna where she gets her drive. "It’s to prove all the skeptics wrong. That’s where my drive is. Most people have no idea how hard children (as well as adults) with learning disabilities work to overcome all types of obstacles. I want to take away the stigma. Children need to know that they are not retarded, lazy or stupid because they have a learning disability. One of my goals is to teach parents how to help their children, rather than fight with their children. Also, I am tired of people telling me what disabled people can and cannot do. " Her advice to everyone is " Believe in yourself. "
Donna says her dream is to work in the field of architecture assisting in the designing of structures that are safe for us to live and work in. But for now, "I just want to work full time and obtain a job with benefits that will bring me totally off the system, without receiving food stamps or medicaid."
Some final words of wisdom-- "Ask for help if you need it. Their are many individuals out there who want to help others, but if you don’t ask, you won’t get any help. It’s a strength to ask for help–it takes courage. Believe me, you’ll be surprised what you can accomplish once you put your pride aside."
Right now, Donna is involved with Haven House, Parent Network, Helping Hands for Students at ECC, Project Dandelion and her neighborhood block club. You might see her handing out Project Dandelion newsletters, speaking against domestic violence, or advocating for individuals with learning disabilities. Her motto is, "You get back what you give." We here at Project Dandelion say, "Go, Donna Huber, Go!"
Kids With Special Needs Day Care
Kids with Special Needs Day Care is located at 696 Broadway in Buffalo right across from St. Ann’s Church. They focus on preschool children who are HIV+ , or chemically dependent or children with special needs who can be trained. The early childhood program for preschoolers accepts infants as young as 6 weeks old. The center also has an afterschool program for children up to 12 years old. They are currently enrolling students now and plan to start classes on November 1st. There is a fee for the programs, but they do work with people on a sliding scale basis. If you have questions you can call them at 852-0159.
Maggie’s Magnificent Broccoli Salad
MIX:
1/2 cup mayonaisse
1 tbs vinegar (red wine)
1 1/2 tsp sugar
ADD
1 Head broccoli
1/3 cup bacon pieces
1/2 cup shredded cheddar
1/2 cup chopped onion (purple or white)
CHILL - For 1 hour and Enjoy!!!!
Be Wise, If You Need It, Ask For Help
Over and over again, I hear hurting people say something like, "I don’t need anyone’s help; I can do it myself." One of the reasons we resist seeking help is that we equate seeking help with weakness. We seem to believe that only weak, helpless people need help. This belief often stems from how we felt when we were children.
Children need help with just about everything. If the receiving of that help is absent, children come to believe that they have to do things for themselves, by themselves, in order to survive. If help from others is coupled with anger, children learn to believe that help is dangerous or noxious. If help from parents or others is overdone, the child fails to develop independent skills and usually resents the help received.
But there are, in everyone’s life, times when we face situations or problems which we try to solve on our own and cannot. At these times, it is plainly irrational to refuse to ask for help.
Seeking out help and being open to receive it when it is offered is a vital survival skill we all need to develop. Our environment is filled with resources that can support us and help us during those times when we cannot or will not help ourselves. There are friends, experts, groups, rituals, coaches, connections, agencies and businesses which are available if only we seek them out and take advantage of their strengths in order to develop our own.
Learn to share your tasks, burdens, and difficulties with trustworthy others. Talk out your problems with friends and accept their comfort and encouragement. Find support groups. Seek counsel and advice from professionals who are skilled in the area where you need help. Learn to use the words, " Will you help me with this?" You have nothing to lose except your fear of asking for help.
Author Unknown.
....and speaking of help......
We Need Your Help!!!!
After six years of service, Project Dandelion may have to shut its doors!
Neighborhood Legal Services recently lost $274,000 of state funding when Governor Pataki vetoed portions of the 1998 state budget. As a result of the veto, Project Dandelion is now faced with the elimination of the important services that we have provided for people trying to get off public assistance for good.
Unless funding is made available, we will have to eliminate most of our welfare to work activities. In an effort to secure funding, we are asking EVERYONE to fill out the attached questionnaire. The questionnaires will be used to show funders how much we do and how important our services are. Anything you can share will be greatly appreciated.
If you would prefer speaking with someone rather than returning this questionnaire, please call the Project Dandelion hotline at 847-0650 ext 402 and ask for Penny.
We look forward to hearing from you!!!
PROJECT DANDELION QUESTIONNAIRE
Please take a few minutes to fill out and return this questionnaire. Your comments are a valuable source of information that can help us to secure the funding that we need. Project Dandelion provides an important service to the people of Western New York. With your help, it will continue to deliver the services needed in our area.
How would you rate Project Dandelion’s services?
Excellent Good Average Poor
Which services did you use?
__ peer counseling/front door __newsletter
__benefits counseling __information hotline
__legal representation __weekly support meetings
When did you participate in Project Dandelion?
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Are you or have you been in school since you participated in Project Dandelion?
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Are you or have you been employed since you participated in Project Dandelion?
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What steps have you or are you taking to achieve economic independence?
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How has Project Dandelion helped you to achieve your goals?
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If applicable, please complete the following sentence.
Project Dandelion has helped me to become self - sufficient by
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Attach a separate sheet if necessary. Please return tp Project Dandelion, 495 Ellicott
Square Building, Buffalo, New York 14203. Thank you in advance ... Project Dandelion
UPCOMING DANDELION MEETINGS & EVENTS
NOVEMBER 17, 1998
ADVOCACY SKILLS
Learn how to become your own best advocate. Research skills;
Trouble-Shooting; Making your own community resource manual and more.
DECEMBER 1, 1998
TENANT TIPS
What you should know about your Housing Rights. Landlord-Tenant
issues, including security deposits, evictions, lockouts, and Small Claims Court.
DECEMBER 8, 1998
MONEY MANAGEMENT
Learn about saving tips, basic budgeting, home remedies, ways to
reduce expenses and increase income, and the best places to shop for clothes, food and
furniture.
DECEMBER 15, 1998
RESOLVING
ON-THE-JOB CONFLICTS
Learn how to anticipate conflicts that may occur on the job.
Self-Assessment, role play, communicating
effectively, and other problem solving techniques.
Meetings are held at Neighborhood Legal Services, Room 495 at 1:00 p.m.