American families: down and almost out but with little hope of state or federal assistance

Millions of Americans who have lost jobs--with no guarantee they will return to work—who have maxed out credit cards, and who have depleted their savings, are hoping for either state or federal assistance to prevent economic disaster.

Unfortunately, it has been my (bitter) experience that government aid programs (for food stamps, unemployment benefits, housing assistance, or pandemic emergency funds) often have an onerous application process, websites that are difficult to navigate, or daunting eligibility requirements.

For example, in Nevada, the website for the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR), shows first-time applicants for unemployment one option, “File a UI Claim.”

There are no prominently displayed instructions to choose “File a UI Claim” OR  “File a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Claim,” along with eligibility criteria for each. The only directive regarding PUA is listed under “Announcements.”

Many applicants, including myself, did not know that they needed to file separately to receive PUA benefits; hence, many lost the extra $600 weekly federal allotment.

Likewise, Nevadans with questions about any part of the unemployment filing process are in trouble. Call Centers either have busy signals, or they prompt callers to visit the DETR website. Applicants who finally get through complain that they can be on hold for up to five hours.

In October, I called DETR to ascertain the status of my claim (filed in May); after approximately 20 minutes, a staffer informed me that my application had not been “adjudicated” nor had anyone been assigned to do the adjudicating. So, I wait.

Moratorium Blues

When Nevada’s moratorium on evictions expired last month, homeowners and renters were advised to seek relief under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.) eviction moratorium. Eligibility for relief under CDC’s eviction moratorium requires that an applicant meet five conditions.

1.       You have tried to obtain all other forms of government rental assistance.

2.       You do not expect to earn more than $99,000 in 2020, or $198,000 if you are married and filing a joint tax return.

3.       You have had a significant loss of household income, a layoff, or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses.

4.       You have made every effort to make partial payments that are as close to the full amount due as possible.

5.       Your eviction would leave you homeless or you would have to move to a place that is more expensive or where you could get sick from close contact with others.

Even if you meet these requirements, your landlord might not accept your declaration, and you might need the assistance of a lawyer (which adds another layer of expense) to stave off eviction.

Likewise, according to the , New York Times “From state to state, and even judge to judge, a simple-sounding order by the C.D.C. on eviction cases is open to interpretation.” Despite one’s best efforts to comply, a judge can rule your application incomplete or invalid.

In September, the NYT reported on the experience of one renter, “Marilyn Hoffman showed up to a hearing in North Carolina — where court administrators informed state court clerks last week that the protections “must be invoked by a tenant” — and expected to have her eviction case put on hold. But the judge refused to accept her signed declaration….

“He was very rude. He said, ‘This doesn’t apply to you,’” said Ms. Hoffman, who had lost her job as an aide at a group home for mentally disabled adults and now volunteers at a homeless shelter.”

I recently recalled how New York City responded after 9-11. Emergency Medicaid was offered for six months with no lengthy strings attached. All you had to do was ask. The state also distributed air purifiers and vacuum cleaners (through local churches) to communities that affected by dust from the collapse of the Towers. Local and state governments’ response was swift and appropriate.

This pandemic is an unprecedented disaster that deserves the same kind of response.

However, with Congress and President Trump unable or unwilling to authorize another (inadequate) stimulus payment, millions of Americans are running out of options.

What will America look like with thousands of families evicted, dependent on food pantries, and jobless?

It ain’t a pretty picture, but one that is more and more likely to become reality.

Listen to NPR’s Scott Horsley on the economic effects of the pandemic on American families.

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