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The consequences of distributing pandemic relief through our burden heavy social welfare benefit system continue to play out. Only 15% of those eligible for additional SNAP benefits are getting them. 1/ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/us/politics/child-hunger-coronavirus.html
Only 12 states have started distributing it and just 2--Michigan and Rhode Island--have completed it. Context: nearly half of low-income workers have lost jobs and many continue to face delays in their unemployment benefit, with some facing evictions 2/ https://www.orlandosentinel.com/coronavirus/jobs-economy/os-bz-coronavirus-evictions-20200526-ahksssr3qjfqfkwqwln5honmdi-story.html
As @JasonDeParle details, a key barrier may be that people aren't aware this aid exists. This a common thread. Confusion about who's eligible and how to apply have also plagued the roll out of additional employment insurance benefits 3/
People often note large variation in available benefits across states, how one may qualify for Medicaid in one state, but not in another. How UI is higher in one state than other. This highlights how administrative challenges also add to that variation across states. 4/
