The Children’s Agenda releases report on public benefits for Rochester families

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Children’s Agenda released a new report this week highlighting the experiences of families who apply for public benefit programs.

This includes programs like WIC, SNAP, and Medicaid.

Last winter, the group interviewed 50 parents and a number of policy experts in Rochester, with a goal of improving access to the programs. It found the parents to be aware of improvements the programs have seen since the beginning of the pandemic, but “frustrated” by complicated and stigmatizing application processes.

“Regulatory flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed more people to enroll and benefit from various public assistance programs,” the report states. “Continuous programmatic coverage and fewer administrative hurdles like in-person interview requirements sustained or grew enrollments.”

Combining their findings with data from state agencies and policy experts, they make recommendations to state government on making access easier.

These recommendations include:

1. Expedite roll-out of the Integrated Eligibility System to streamline applications and recertifications
2. Advocate with the federal government to build on the progress made during the Public Health Emergency
3. Ease benefit use through better incentives for providers and more creativity in how and where participants can use benefits
4. Prioritize reducing burdens and increasing uptake in recommendations made by the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council

“Those are little things but they’re actually not little things for families that are really struggling on a day to day basis to get through what they need to get through,” TCA policy director Pete Nabozney said.

Click here to read the report.

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