November 1992

Cover

 
  • Advocacy Responses to State Budget Cuts and Reform Proposals

    This article examines state budget cuts and AFDC reform efforts and suggests ways to address the real problems of the welfare system as experienced by clients.

    By Alan W. Houseman

  • Work and Poverty: State-Level Policies That "Make Work Pay"

    Although federal tax changes have removed most poor families from the federal Income tax rolls, state and local governments have been increasing the tax burden imposed on the poor. As a result, a large number of the working poor cannot raise themselves out of poverty. This article examines some of the methods that states have taken to help the working poor, including higher minimum wages, more gradual welfare benefit reductions for working families, policies to exempt the working poor from state Income taxes, earned income credits, state sales tax offset credits, and state property tax circuit breakers.

    By Iris J. Lav and Isaac Shapiro

  • The New Welfare Cutbacks and Litigation Responses

    This article describes the extensive welfare cutbacks of the 1990s and summarizes major litigation responses by poor people's advocates.

    By The staff of the Center on Social Welfare Policy and Law

  • An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Child Support Assurance

    Under existing child support assurance programs, more single-parent families are freed from poverty because they get a guaranteed support payment of at least a basic amount each month. This articles explores the concept of child support assurance, describes some of the current proposals, and suggests ways that legal services advocates and the client community can become more active in the development of such a system.

    By Paula Roberts

  • Disability Advocacy Projects: Programs That Assist Low Income Clients and Ease State Government Fiscal Problems

    Disability Advocacy Projects cost little to fund, are simple to administer, and return at least two dollars in direct savings—and usually much more—for every dollar a state spends on them. This article describes the different kinds of projects and how to determine where they are feasible.

    By Jane Hardin

  • Minding the Courthouse Door: Decisions Concerning Access to Federal Court Issued During the Supreme Court's 1991-92 Term

    This article describes a number of decisions issued by the Court during the last term that have significant implications for the ability of low-income individuals to obtain redress in the federal courts.

    By John Boston, Laurie Davison, Gill Deford, Matthew Diller, Shelley Jackson, and Brian Lawlor