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How Hawai‘i Eliminated Their TANF Asset Limit

Brent Kakesako Hawai‘i Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development (HACBED) ‘Auli‘i K. George Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Shriver Center Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Lay the Foundation: Defining Genuine Wealth � We collected stories from families across the

state We learned that… � Genuine wealth is beyond financial � Relationships with each other and the health

and well being of our environment and community is important

� “Ho‘owaiwai” -- when a community has water it was considered wealthy

Ho‘owaiwai Network

Established by the vision and support of… � Hawai‘i families and

service providers � State & National

Funders � State & National

Advocacy Groups

Ho‘owaiwai Network

Established to… �  Connect existing

networks to achieve family & community self-sufficiency

�  Gather data and develop an asset building policy road map

�  Utilize stories as a foundation to effectively raise awareness to a broader community

Asset Building Policy Roadmap

Hawai‘i’s Asset Building Framework �  Help People Start & Own

Businesses

�  Make Work Pay (Tax Credits & Other Policy)

�  Teach Asset Building

�  Break Down Barriers to Asset Building (Asset Limits & Predatory Lending)

�  Help People Save (IDAs, CSAs)

�  Help People Buy Homes

Political Will of the Network

� Recognition by County and State public officials

� Creation of a caucus of 12 legislators both from the House and Senate

Hawaii State Asset Building & Financial Education Task Force

Purpose – Develop policy recommendations for the following: � Financial

Education � Children’s Savings

Accounts � Asset Limits

Members of task force included: �  Legislators �  State and County

Agencies �  Community

Organizations �  Foundations �  Financial Institutions �  Educational

Institutions

Captured Political Will

� Task force report is legislative record

� Tool to address potential opposition

� Used as a resource for future legislative priorities

Network Advocates

� Local and national advocacy groups

� Education and research institutions

� Community-based organizations

2012 Legislative Session

Process � Network partners

introduced asset limit reforming legislation

� Either to increase the asset limit or eliminate the asset limit for TANF

Proposed Legislation �  HB2685 increase limit

to $10,000 �  HB1987/SB2178

increase limit to $15,000

�  SB2936 eliminate asset limit

�  H.R. 124 study asset limits

Network Partner Role: Office of Hawaiian Affairs

�  Develop message consistent with network partners message

�  Keep in contact with network partners including Ho’owaiwai Network and CFED

�  Update Board of Trustees on the progress

�  Meet with supportive legislators to determine potential opposition in the committees

Asset Limit Study

Purpose � As a result of H.R.124, the state Department of

Human Services (DHS) conducted an asset limit study as it relates to all public assistance programs.

� The Director of DHS, Patricia McManaman, convened a small work group of community members and DHS staff to provide recommendations and determine the fiscal implications

Asset Limit Study

Process & Outcome � The work group comprised of network

members which heavily influenced the content and outcome of the report.

�  Included data and research from state and national advocacy groups (including CFED and others)

� Final recommendation was to eliminate asset limits for TANF/TANOF program

2013 Legislative Session

With the support of Director Patricia McManaman, HB868 was introduced in Governor Abercrombie’s legislative package. The bill would eliminate asset limits for the TANF/TANOF program.

Network Message Benefit to the State and Neediest Populations �  Other states that eliminated asset limits saw a decrease in

caseload and lessened the administrative burden �  TANF recipients are eligible to receive the federal EITC in

which they are entitled a maximum of $5,861. Families can save these funds for emergencies and prevent future use of public assistance rather than divest themselves of these savings.

�  Financial savings and asset accumulation enables our neediest families to maintain a safety net to self-sufficiency, prevent job loss, and avoid a return to public assistance.

�  Families would have an opportunity to build assets toward retirement, which would lessen their dependence on government in their old age.

Network Message Safeguards to prevent fraud and abuse �  There are strict income requirements to be

eligible for TANF, which means that benefits would only go to those who need the assistance.

�  The application process for public benefits is tedious and rigorous. In order to receive public benefits, a recipient must review and complete 24 pages of application and informational content.

Asset Limit Bill Becomes Law

� Act 18 was signed by Governor Abercrombie on April 18, 2013

� The law was implemented immediately following the signing.

BRENT ‘AULI’I

ALOHA! HOWZIT!

Support from the Network and beyond … �  Department of

Human Services �  Department of Labor

& Industrial Relations Office of Community Services

�  OHA �  HACBED �  Hawai‘i State

Commission on the Status of Women

�  Bridge to Hope

�  Appleseed Center for Law & Justice

�  Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i

�  Hawai‘i Women’s Coalition

�  AAUW Windward �  Community Alliance

for Mental Health �  Catholic Charities �  Goodwill �  ACLU

Lessons Learned � Policies were developed from the stories

told by Hawai‘i families � Be proactive and build relationships in

your community, consider the network approach

� Be accurate and do the research and data gathering (national partners can help)

� Develop factual talking points and be consistent with the message

Mahalo!

Brent Kakesako bkakesako@hacbed.org

‘Auli‘i George auliig@oha.org