Tim Marshall

Welcome back to Public Benefits are Key! As our frontline human service workers, you know the difference public benefits can make! One of the most vital benefits is TANF, a cash assistance program that is accessed by over 700,000 families in the US. Check out our updated presentation to learn about TANF eligibility, benefit limit exceptions and extensions, WorkFirst requirements, client advocacy tips, and recent program updates from Hannah Rosenberger of Benefits Legal Assistance at Solid Ground. How Can Someone Access TANF Benefits? Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a cash assistance program available to families with dependent children. A family may be eligible for TANF if they: Child-Only TANF is also available for some children, even when other household members, including kin caregivers, are ineligible due to non-citizenship. Questions about eligibility? Visit washingtonconnection.org For those ineligible or not receiving TANF, other programs may be available to families. These include: A note on earned vs unearned income. Earned income is typically income from employment. Unearned income is income from another source, such as Social Security benefits or unemployment insurance. When considering income limits, unearned income is considered dollar for dollar, in that if a family of two receives $2,000 in SSDI and unemployment, they are ineligible due to exceeding the income level limit of $1,056 for a family of two. However, earned income is counted at 50%, with an additional earned income disregard of $500 (starting August 1st, 2024). For example, if a family of two receives $2,000 in wages from employment, it is officially considered $500 ($2000/2-$500), and therefore below the income level limit of $1,056 for a family of two, qualifying them for benefits (note that the additional $500 disregard does not go into effect until August 2024). Benefit amounts start at $417/month for a single person and increases based on …

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Welcome long-time and new members to our Annual Membership Meeting! As a Coalition of 50+ organizations of compassionate care providers, adept administrators, and fierce advocates, we know that membership means PROGRESS via collective action! In the past year, through our collective actions, we have sent over 9,500 messages to our elected officials at the city, county, and state. Together we took action to oppose anti-homelessness ordinances, fight for inflation adjustments in the City of Seattle and King County 2023-24 biennium budgets, improve ABD, fully fund the Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) program, and to advocate for an increased rate for the 2023 Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services levy. This annual meeting is a space for celebration of our members! We also shared: See our full meeting on YouTube! Coalition Announcements Make sure to opt in to emails to keep up with new chances to learn, advocate, and connect! The Magic of Membership Members are the heart of our work! The Coalition has a powerful voice due to its 50+ organizational members – our members share information, advocate at many levels, and despite some setbacks we ultimately make change. Check out Sara Robbin’s testimony below for why membership at the Coalition matters to her on YouTube. Do you want to inform the Coalition’s work by sharing feedback? Contact Jody at jody[at]homelessinfo[dot]org or tim[at]homelessinfo[dot]org. Meet our New and Returning Board Members Welcome new Board of Director members Megan Stanley, Sherry Wu, Robin Koskey, and returning Board Members Derrick Belgarde and Jenn Romo! Check out our recording on YouTube to hear more about all of our candidates. 2023 Legislative Session Wrap-Up We were fortunate to be joined by Rep. Emily Alvarado, Rep. Nicole Macri, and Senator Rebecca Saldaña, who reflected on their 2023 policy and budget priorities, victories, and opportunities for 2024 and beyond! We had a Major Win with House Bill 1260! Our community advocates and …

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Welcome Back, Members! It may be unseasonably cold outside, but we’re here to keep you warm with all the advocacy news and community networking you can handle! This month, we had a well-rounded blend of special guest presentations from Health Care for the Homeless and Tenant Law Center, and advocacy updates from the King County Housing and Essential needs staff, King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, and our own Sara and Alison. Before you dive in, note that our Annual Membership Meeting is rapidly approaching – join us on Thursday, May 18th at 9am for a special 2-hour meeting that includes special guests from the state legislature and our Board of Directors Election! Register at this link! Welcome, Ellie Navidson! We had the pleasure of meeting the new Clinical Quality Lead at Public Health’s Healthcare for the Homeless. They shared an exciting new resource for providers who work with unhoused folks – a new in-person Overdose Prevention Training series, offered monthly throughout 2023. This is much needed, as King County overdose deaths have risen dramatically since the introduction of fentanyl. Want to learn more? Email Ellie at enavidson[at]kingcounty[dot]gov for a training schedule and to be added to the roster. In the meantime, check out this excellent resource guide on overdose prevention and harm reduction. Eviction Resources from Tenant Law Center Next, we were joined by Michelle Jones and Kasey Burton from Tenant Law Center to discuss helpful resources for clients at risk of eviction or who have already been evicted. The Tenant Resource Line is a new service for low-income King County tenant who: Upon calling, tenants will be screened and provided with self-help resources or may be connected to an attorney for real-time legal advice. Note that due to high demand, a tenant may have to leave a message and …

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Welcome to our latest ABD/HEN Training! Welcome to our third training on ABD and HEN programs. In case you missed it, we got a thorough overview of program details and client advocacy advice from: Check out a recording of our training below! What Is ABD? The Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) program is a cash assistance program facilitated by DSHS. Benefits include a monthly cash disbursement of $417 for individuals or $528 for couples, assistance when applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, and an automatic referral to the Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) program – more on that later! To be eligible for ABD, an applicant must be 65 or older, visually impaired or blind, OR have a physical or mental disability that prevents them from working full-time for at least 12 months. If qualifying as visually impaired or disabled, they must be at least 18 years old. Note that applicants are not eligible for ABD benefits if their disability or impairment is primarily related to substance use. Additionally, the applicant must be a Washington resident and a U.S. citizen, with certain exceptions. To be eligible, their income must not exceed $339 per month for one-person households or $428 per month for two-person households if income is unearned (from unemployment, Social Security, or other sources). If income is earned (wages from employment), it must not exceed $678 per month for one-person households, or $856 for two-person households. Additionally, they must have less than $6,000 in liquid resources, such as cash on hand or in checking/savings accounts Applicants can work part-time or receive VA benefits and be eligible for ABD, as long as income doesn’t exceed limits. Not sure about eligibility? Visit WashingtonConnection.org to learn more. The Application Process To apply for ABD: The application process requires a Financial Interview …

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Welcome Back, Members! Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash I hope you’re ready for another spirited General Membership Meeting! It may be unseasonably cold outside, but we’ll keep you warm with all the advocacy news and community networking you can handle! This month, we have a well-rounded blend of special guest presentations from KC Councilmember Girmay Zahilay and Health Care for the Homeless, resource sharing from our friends at Services Tenant Law Center, and advocacy updates from our own Sara and Alison. We’ll start off the meeting with an introduction from Ellie Navidson, the new Clinical Quality Lead at King County Health Care for the Homeless Network. They will share updates from the Network, including a new IN-PERSON Harm Reduction Training that happens every month! Next, we’ll hear from some of our policy experts on important policy and budget advocacy work! We had a real win with the passage of HB 1260, which would prevent repayment of ABD benefits by low-income, disabled beneficiaries. Staff from the King County HEN program will share the testimony she delivered to lawmakers in the Senate Ways and Means committee that helped win this legislative victory! Sara Robbins and Alison Eisinger will share state and local updates, including news on the renewal of a vital human services funding source, the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL). We will also hear from King County Councilmember Girmay Zahily to discuss the importance of the Crisis Care Center Levy! Last but certainly not least, we’ll hear from Michelle Jones and Kacey Burton from the Tenant Law Center at Catholic Community Services. They’ll be delivering an overview of a legal process called an  Order of Limited Dissemination, which can be used to prevent landlords and property managers from seeing past eviction histories. They’ll also be sharing information about the new …

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The Right to Long-Term Care for Adults at Risk of Homelessness For this special training, we were joined by Meredith Grigg and Ashley Greenberg from Northwest Justice Project! Northwest Justice Project is Washington’s largest civil legal aid provider for low-income people. They support people involved in matters such as family safety and security plans, protection of income, education rights, access to benefits, housing stability, employment issues and have served veterans, farm workers, victims of crime, survivors of domestic violence, Western State Hospital patients, and lots of others! Meredith and Ashley are keen advocates for the long-term care rights of people in variety of circumstances, having worked with entities like Seattle Children’s, Harborview Medical Center, and Aging and Disability Services, where they have come across clients unfairly discharged from a long-term care facility. Who is this Training for? This training is for any client advocate or service provider who has a client who is medically vulnerable or disabled and is at risk or currently experiencing homelessness. You may have learned that your client was in a facility, and then discharged from the facility without their consent to a hospital or a shelter, without the option to return or to appeal the decision. This training aims to deliver resources and best practices to providers who care about the well-being of their clients and want to see them regain access to a long-term care facility. What is Long-Term Care? Long-Term Care facilities are spaces for medically vulnerable or disabled adults to receive specialized care outside of one’s home in their community. Types of Long-Term Care facilities include: Out-of-pockets costs of living in a long-term care facility can vary, but generally works out to $6,500-$9,500 per month in a nursing home and $3,500-$7,000 per month in other facilities. For the vast number of people …

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Welcome Back, Members! As we move into an unusually cold, rainy, and snowy March, we have the information you need to stay motivated and updated on how we can come together to support our unhoused neighbors! In our March 2023 Meeting: Check out the recording below or keep reading for a full recap! Legislative Session and Budget Updates from Sara Robbins, Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness Despite our best efforts, including hundreds of emails sent from our members, SB (Senate Bill) 5480, which aims to improve the HEN improvements, did not make it out of Senate Ways & Means Committee. But all is not lost! The Coalition is working with state legislators to make technical and largescale changes to legislative proposals and will try again next legislative session. ESHB (Engrossed Substitute House Bill) 1260, which aims to reduce financial burdens on disabled SSI beneficiaries, just passed out of its last policy committee, meaning it is on its way to an important hurdle – the Ways and Means Committee. Want to make sure it passes? Email your legislators to demand that this bill must pass! Many of us know that after the kerfuffle of the legislative session, finalizing the state budget is a monumental task we must face every other year. Even though we could not improve the HEN program, we know the program as it exists is still effective in providing housing subsidies to thousands of low-income, disabled Washingtonians. Because of this, we must ensure that this benefits program is fully funded! SIGN ON to our letter to the legislature to make your voice heard! In King County, we have two upcoming levies that could maintain and expand funding for human and health services. The Crisis Care Center Levy will open five behavioral health centers in King County, with one …

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Welcome back to Public Benefits are Key! In this special edition of our Public Benefits are Key! Series, we were joined by: Marcy Bowers of Statewide Poverty Action Network, a fierce advocate and negotiator that shaped the Working Families Tax Credit Hannah Rosenberger of Solid Ground, a skilled public benefits attorney and frequent collaborator on Public Benefits are Key! Trainings The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) is available that families and individuals in Washington that has taken years to strategize and implement. Champions such as Marcy Bowers, are thrilled to launch the WFTC as it provides a cash resource available to some undocumented Americans, people of low and moderate incomes, does not impact public benefits like TANF and Social Security benefits, and offers higher awards to those with greater need, rather than higher awards to those who earn more. Keep reading to learn about the Working Families Tax Credit Coalition and campaign that made this tax credit possible, tax credit eligibility, and access to apply. What is the Working Families Tax Credit? The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) is a resource that… And it is expected to have huge impacts! Who is Eligible for the WFTC? To obtain this tax credit, you have to fit four criteria: Income limits and credit amounts depend on number of dependents and whether you are filing as head of household or jointly. Below is a chart that details these amounts: More information on income eligibility can be found at the Department of Revenue website. NOTE that non-US citizens are eligible for this tax credit if they have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and file taxes. To get an ITIN, you must go through the IRS – make an appointment with your local IRS office on IRS.gov. While it can take some time to …

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Welcome Back to Public Benefits are Key! For those mystified by Social Security benefits and want to make sure your clients get the cash benefits they need, this is the training recap for you! In this training, we cover: We were joined by five knowledgeable staff from Benefits Law Center (email them with any questions!): The Benefits Law Center (BLC) has existed since 1997 to provide legal advice and representation to low-income individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of Social Security benefits. BLC is committed to delivering high-quality advocacy centered on a client’s needs, honoring the humanity of every client, and providing a continually inclusive, collaborative environment for all. Visit their website to learn more! Do you or a client need help applying for or maintaining Social Security disability benefits? Contact Benefits Law Center! Call (206) 686-7252 or email info[at]benefitslawcenter[dot]org. *Note that the following blog acts a digest of the presentation and does not capture all details. For a full recap, review the slides below or check out this training in full on YouTube! What are SSI and SSDI benefits? Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) are cash benefits disbursed by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA), a federal governmental agency that provided benefits for over 65 million Americans in 2021, providing income to those who are unable to work due to a disability and to qualifying members of their households. It is important to note that the SSA has been a very effective anti-poverty tool for beneficiaries of all backgrounds, however it was built with racist intentions. Check out this article to learn more. SSI and SSDI are both disability benefits, but their programs are designed to serve different people. In short, SSI is designed for those who have low incomes who may never have …

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Happy New Year, Member We hope your 2022 ended with rest and celebration, because 2023 is off to a busy start! As we dive in to the 2023 legislative session, we are here to prep you with a few takeaways: Check out our meeting recording or keep reading for more! But first, a Few Updates from The Coalition! Coalition Legislative Priorities Sara Robbins gave a great overview of our legislative priorities – namely that we are focused on enhancing public benefits program that our unhoused community is entitled to. Specifically, The Coalition aims to pass legislation to reform the ABD (Aged, Blind, or Disabled) and HEN (Housing and Essential Needs) programs. ABD and HEN are programs designed to serve low-income people with disabilities who are applying for SSI or SSDI, providing time-limited benefits such as cash, housing, transportation, and basic needs support. A significant portion of our members serve clients accessing ABD and HEN, which means this legislation affects many of us directly! For more information on ABD and HEN, check out this blog post. The Coalition is supporting three bills: SB 5480, SB 5413, and HB 1260. These bills aim to reform ABD and HEN in a few ways: Keep an eye on your inbox for a Coalition Action Alert to pass these bills! How to Sign in PRO like a pro! Alison Eisinger, our Coalition’s fiercest advocate, walked us through some important tips on legislative advocacy. Being remote during the legislative session has its benefits, one of which being we can show our support and opposition for bills from the comfort of our own homes! Legislators know who shares their position on legislation, and it can influence how legislators vote! There are two easy ways to share your position on any bill in the legislative session: Hang in …

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