Economic Security

May 17, 2024 by WVCBP
Lawmakers Will Gavel in for Special Session on Human Services Funding, Surplus Spending

West Virginia MetroNews - West Virginia lawmakers expect to convene for a special session starting Sunday, focusing on the state’s level of funding for human services plus additional surplus spending priorities. Read the full article. The expectation is that the special session will gavel in late Sunday afternoon with the likelihood of continuing into Monday.…

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May 8, 2024 by Rhonda Rogombe
SNAP Restrictions Fail to Connect Vulnerable Residents to Work While Straining Charitable Food Providers

In July 2023, West Virginia reimplemented pre-pandemic time limits for some adults receiving food assistance via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The time limits apply to adults between 18 and 52 (up to 54 in September 2024) without a documented disability and without children under 18 in the household, often referred to as "able-bodied…

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May 8, 2024 by Rhonda Rogombe
SNAP Restrictions Fail to Connect Vulnerable Residents to Work While Straining Cabell County Charitable Providers

In July 2023, West Virginia reimplemented pre-pandemic time limits for some adults receiving food assistance via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The time limits apply to adults between 18 and 52 (up to 54 in September 2024) without a documented disability and without children under 18 in the household, often referred to as "able-bodied…

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May 8, 2024 by Rhonda Rogombe
SNAP Restrictions Fail to Connect Vulnerable Residents to Work While Straining Mingo County Charitable Providers

In July 2023, West Virginia reimplemented pre-pandemic time limits for some adults receiving food assistance via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The time limits apply to adults between 18 and 52 (up to 54 in September 2024) without a documented disability and without children under 18 in the household, often referred to as "able-bodied…

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May 7, 2024 by Sean O'Leary
Reducing Poverty Can Improve Educational Outcomes

One in four children in West Virginia lived in poverty in 2022, the second highest rate of any state in the country. With the state pursuing education reform focused on funneling taxpayer funding out of public schools and into the private sector via the Hope Scholarship, West Virginia's voucher program which is growing more expensive…

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March 12, 2024 by Kelly Allen
Critics: Changes in WV Unemployment Benefits will Harm Families Amid Inflation

Public News Service - Critics say a bill passed by West Virginia lawmakers increases the bureaucratic red tape folks who rely on unemployment benefits have to navigate and could financially hurt families already struggling with the high cost of living and ongoing inflation. Read the full article. Kelly Allen, executive director with the West Virginia…

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March 9, 2024 by Sean O'Leary
West Virginia Legislature Completes Action on Unemployment Bill

West Virginia Watch, News from the States - With hours to spare on the last night of the West Virginia Legislature’s 60-day session, the House of Delegates approved an amended version of a Senate bill that changes the structure of the state’s unemployment benefit program.  Read the full article. Delegates passed Senate Bill 841 with a…

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March 7, 2024 by WVCBP
A Last-minute Bill to Cut Unemployment Benefits has Lawmakers Confused. They’re Rushing it Through Anyway

Mountain State Spotlight, Times West Virginian, Fayette Tribune - As the House Finance Committee began discussing a quickly-drafted unemployment bill on Monday, it quickly became apparent that lawmakers were going to have lots of questions. Within minutes, the committee hit its first roadblock: How much are unemployment benefits?  Read the full article. Questions continued over the course…

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March 4, 2024 by Sean O'Leary
Bill Cutting Unemployment Benefits Heads to the House Floor for Vote

West Virginia Watch, News from the States - A bill that would cut the duration of unemployment benefits in the state is heading for a vote by the full West Virginia House of Delegates. Read the full article. After a 3.5 hour discussion Monday afternoon, the House finance committee voted 14 to 9 to advance Senate…

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March 1, 2024 by Kelly Allen
West Virginia Senate Advances Work Requirements Expansion for SNAP Benefits

Ballotpedia News - The West Virginia Senate on February 23, 2024, passed Senate Bill 562, which aims to raise the age of able-bodied adults without dependents who must meet work requirements to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in the state. Read the full article. Current federal requirements mandate that able-bodied adults without dependents…

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