alabama's working families and the broken promise of economic ...

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PER CAPITA SPENDINGIN WORK SUPPORT PROGRAMS 2005$3500$3000$2500$2000$1500$1000Note: Data for Tennessee unavailable.U.S. Alabama Florida Georgia MississippiSource: Urban Institute, “Trends in Work Supports for Low-Income Families with Children,” July 17, 2007.the basis of family income, and the state does notautomatically exempt poverty-level families from copays.For example, a family of four with an annualincome of $6,192 would be required to provide a copayfor child care services.Health careAlabama’s Medicaid program serves approximately900,000 individuals, or one of every five Alabamians.Faced with chronic funding shortfalls and expandingrolls, the state provides one of the most minimalprograms in the country. Alabama’s Medicaid forLow-Income Families (MLIF) eligibility group, forexample, limits monthly income to the equivalentof 26 percent of the federal poverty level. At thisextremely low income level, only 44 percent of uninsuredeligible recipients utilize Medicaid. 68Thirty-six percent of Alabama’s low-income workingfamilies have at least one parent without healthinsurance, 69 and the state has no health care subsidyavailable to either employers or their employees.Lack of insurance can lead to significant loss ofincome for routine medical problems, and a seriousaccident or long-term health problem can shatteran uninsured family’s financial security.Unemployment insuranceProbably the most direct route back to employmentfor many unemployed workers is educationand training. Alabama, however, makes it difficultfor these individuals to meet even basic needs.The maximum weekly benefit available to eligibleworkers is $210, ranking Alabama 49th amongstates; the average maximum weekly benefit forSoutheastern states is $286. 70 Alabama does allowstudents involved in GED classes, college or avocational school to receive unemployment benefits,but recipients must agree to change their classschedule or withdraw from the program upon findingemployment.Worker’s compensationAlabama provides the 12th highest worker’s compensationminimum weekly benefit rate in thenation at $173. 71 Though relatively generous by34 Bridging the Gap
Alabama’s Medicaid for Low-Income Families(MLIF) eligibility group limits monthly income to theequivalent of 26 percent of the federal poverty level.Alabama’s Working Families 35
Page 8 and 9: 6 Bridging the Gap
Page 11 and 12: Chapter 3 examines the state’s ec
Page 13 and 14: CHAPTER 1Alabama’s Low-IncomeWork
Page 16: For most of this decade, Alabama’
Page 19 and 20: CHAPTER 2The Education and Training
Page 22 and 23: level for the state, and ultimately
Page 24 and 25: programs, while responsive to emplo
Page 26 and 27: POLICY AGENDABridging the education
Page 30 and 31: Occupations with Highest Projected
Page 32 and 33: Recap of Capital Credit ProgramNOTI
Page 38 and 39: national standards, this is far les
Page 40 and 41: Endnotes1 Information provided by L
Page 42: Photography CreditsCover images: Va

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