A proposed rule change to the Official Poverty Measure by the Trump Administration will negatively impact millions of children and families in our state, where, according to 2016 California Poverty Measure estimates, 21.3 percent of California's children live in poverty. If approved, the change would affect children and families' eligibility for federal programs that provide health care, nutrition and basic assistance, effectively reducing or eliminating their access to these needed supports.
According to the UC Berkeley Labor Center, the impact of the adjustment could result in the following by 2028:
- 30,000 adults and 30,000 children who would otherwise be enrolled in Medi-Cal would lose eligibility;
- More than 1 million Californians with subsidized coverage through Covered California would receive smaller premium subsidies, and some would lose their subsidies entirely; and
- Some of the 3.7 million Californians enrolled in CalFresh could lose access to the program, as could many of the Californians enrolled in dozens of other public programs which use the federal poverty line to establish eligibility benefits.
Specifically, the proposal is to change the inflation rate used to calculate the poverty threshold each year. If this change is approved, the adjustment of the poverty line will slow over time and result in an undercount of the number of children and families living in poverty.
We need your help to ensure that children living in poverty continue to have access to affordable health care, nutritious food, early childhood education and other critical supports! Use this document for information about how to submit a comment, including tips and a customizable template.
Submit comments opposing the proposed change to the federal poverty line before Friday, June 21.
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