Economic Security
Families succeed when parents are secure in their ability to provide
basic necessities for their children. Workers prosper when workplaces
are safe and financial protections exist in cases of injury or job
loss. And everyone in the state benefits when people can meet their
basic needs and find meaningful employment. During a recession people
need these services the most. But it’s also the time when those
services are most in budgetary jeopardy.
Related research:
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Gap between rich and poor in Washington - Third fastest growth in Nation: Incomes of Poorest Families Stagnant Over Past Decade
- Jan. 26, 2006 - A new report today found Washington State wealthy families have over seven times higher incomes than low-income families.
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How the 2006 Federal Budget Agreement matters to Washington State: Impact on low and moderate-income Washingtonians
- February, 2006 - This brief describes fiscal and policy changes to other key areas included in the budget agreement.
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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): New federal welfare requirements pose tough choices for Washington
- February, 2006 - The budget agreement makes the most significant changes to the TANF program since it was enacted in 1996 – effectively ending years of debate regarding the program’s reauthorization.
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State could do more to support struggling families: Benefit levels have not kept up with the cost of living
- January 2007 - The monthly WorkFirst cash assistance benefit is a key part of the state’s social safety net, but it has not been increased since 1993.
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High Interest, Lost Opportunity: Mapping the cost of payday lending in Washington State
- January 31, 2007 - Basic financial services available to lower income families such as cashing checks and short-term loans often come with interest rates that soar well above 300 percent.
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New revenue projection emphasizes need for investments in economic security
- February 15, 2008 - The official projection of the amount of money the state will raise for the current two-year budget (ending in June 2008) is $423 million lower than it was in November, according to the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. Read the update
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General Assistance: New Strategies for a Vital Program
- February 11, 2009 - Today the Budget and Policy Center is releasing a new policy brief on Washington’s General Assistance Program, which provides financial and medical assistance to over 20,000 adults with disabilities in the state.
