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MGH Community News |
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MGH Community News |
| June 2020 | Volume 24 • Issue 3 |
Highlights
Sections Social Service staff may direct resource questions to the Community Resource Center, Hannah Perry, 617-726-8182. Questions, comments about the newsletter? Contact Ellen Forman, 617-726-5807. |
In line with other reopening efforts, we are resuming publication of The MGH Community News, which has been on hiatus since the February 2020 edition. Thanks for your patience in our absence. The News will primarily focus on non-COVID-19 related resources, and COVID-19 reopening, though expect some overlap with the COVID-19 Resource document that you may also receive. As always we welcome your story ideas, resource sharing and feedback. Be well! DTA Now Accepts Phone Applications for SNAP and Cash Assistance DTA now has an option to apply by phone (as of mid June). This is a very positive and important change, especially for those who do not have access to the internet or who are not comfortable doing an online application. For SNAP: Households can call the DTA Assistance Line at 877 382 2363 to apply by phone.
As always, see MLRI's COVID-19 google doc for up to date info (and here on P-EBT). - From Victoria Negus, MLRI, June 25, 2020. |
SNAP: Interim Reports and Recertifications Resume and Emergency Supplements for June Approved The following is based on emails DTA sent out to Outreach Partners and Advisory Board members late Friday (6/19) with various updates. SNAP and Cash Assistance Renewals DTA was granted a waiver from the USDA to postpone SNAP Interim Reports (IRs) and Recertifications that were due in March through June for 6 months. DTA also postponed TAFDC and EAEDC cash assistance reevaluations. This USDA waiver is expiring. SNAP IRs and Recertifications and TAFDC and EAEDC Revaluations are beginning again. The first group are households who need to complete an IR or Recertification before August to keep their SNAP benefits uninterrupted. The DTA forms are sent 45 days before the due date. The DTA began mailing forms in mid-June. It is critical that households respond to these forms or they may not get their August SNAP benefits. Some households may need to submit additional proofs. Other households filing a Recertification form will also need to have a phone interview with DTA (there is no interview at the point of Interim Report). Households can return the paperwork to DTA 1 of 3 ways: Completing online at DTAConnect.com via their case account, US mail, or by FAX. For more information about SNAP reevaluations, see this Question in the SNAP Advocacy Guide SNAP Emergency Supplements:USDA approved DTA to issue another extra, emergency SNAP benefit to bring household’s benefits up to the maximum amount for their household size for the month of June. This payment should be issued on July 2nd, 2020. Those who already receive the maximum benefit amount for their household size will not received an additional payment. - From Pat Baker, MLRI, June 22, 2020
Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter Escalation Contacts As with most state agencies, DHCD workers who ordinarily are stationed at DTA offices to accept Emergency Assistance (EA) family shelter applications, are currently working remotely. Families cannot appear in person at designated DTA offices to apply for EA- they must apply by phone by calling 866-584-0653, Mon to Fri between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm (the earlier in the day the better.) The Community Resource Center has heard that some are having difficulty getting through or getting a “mailbox full” message. If on subsequent tries you are still unable to reach them, MA Coalition for the Homeless advises that advocates may escalate the issue by contacting DHCD’s Director of Field Operations Alvina Brevard or Attorney Adrian Walleigh. For advocates’ use only; please do not share these resources with patients/families directly. - Thanks to Hannah Perry and Marwa Sayed for this advocacy tip.
Transgender Health Protections Reversed by Trump Administration The Trump administration this month finalized a rule that would remove health care and health insurance nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people. It also weakens federal requirements related to translation and language access. The rule is set to go into effect by mid-August. It is one of many rules and regulations put forward by the Trump administration that defines "sex discrimination" as only applying when someone faces discrimination for being female or male, and does not protect people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The rule could also mean that those seeking an abortion could be denied care if performing the procedure violates the provider's moral or religious beliefs. Critics worry about access to health care, especially in a pandemic Mari Brighe, a freelance writer and transgender woman who lives outside Detroit, called the rule "terrifying." "I can relate a decade of stories about getting terrible health care because I'm trans," Brighe said. "We walk into any given health care situation not knowing whether doctors are going to treat us well, whether we're going to get high quality care, whether any given, random health care person is going to be terrible to us." She said worries now that the rule could make transgender people — who are already reluctant to seek medical care — all the more likely to avoid coronavirus treatment and testing. MA State Law Will Continue to Offer Protections In response, MassHealth issued a statement that reads in part: MassHealth submitted a letter in opposition to these changes on August 13, 2019 to the federal Department of Health and Human Services when they were first announced in draft form. We want to expressly emphasize that these federal changes have not changed MassHealth's commitment to providing all medically necessary MassHealth services to LGBTQ individuals who are MassHealth members, including transgender members. Nor do these federal changes affect our commitment to ensuring LGBTQ members can access MassHealth covered benefits free from unlawful discrimination. We want to reiterate that various other state laws and regulations, as well as MassHealth managed care contracts, continue to prohibit discrimination in health care for the LGBTQ community and require meaningful language access for MassHealth members. Plans and providers must continue to ensure compliance with these nondiscrimination requirements. - Sources and for more information: Transgender Health Protections Reversed By Trump Administration, NPR, and From MassHealth Regarding the Federal Changes to Section 1557 of the ACA and the Impact on the LGBTQ Community, MA Health Care Training Forum, June 19, 2020.
Supreme Court Protects DACA – For Now After an intense legal battle, the Supreme Court issued a positive decision on the DACA case on June 18, 2020, finding that the Trump administration’s decision to terminate the program was “arbitrary and capricious” under the Administrative Procedures Act and failed to consider the hardship to DACA recipients. This decision is a huge victory for immigrant communities and their allies who mobilized to protect the DACA program. However, although the Court sided with DACA recipients, it is important to remember that the Trump Administration can again attempt to end the program through a new executive action, which they have indicated they intend to do. Below are some important takeaways to share with clients and community members that briefly explains the Court decision. Please also find Immigrant Legal Resource Center’s community 1-pager on ILRC’s DACA page that explains the recent DACA decision in more detail in English and Spanish. What did the Court decide? The Court ruled in favor of the DACA program, rejecting the Trump administration’s 2017 attempt to terminate the program. This decision restores the program completely, and both initial and renewal applications should be accepted by USCIS. What does this mean for the community?
It is possible Advance Parole may again allow DACA recipients to travel outside the United States and return. However, details of this possibility are still unclear, and the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may limit the ability to travel. Check with a legal service provider for more information. Mass Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) has a DACA Renewal Fund. If you know any DACA recipients who are eligible for renewal, or whose DACA has lapsed, send them our way for legal assistance and help with the $495 fee. (Donations accepted at DACA Renewal fund.)
The Trump Administration Just Furloughed 13,400 Immigration Workers Effectively Halting the US Immigration System Approximately 13,400 employees of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services woke to find out they will be furloughed beginning in August, a move that will effectively bring the U.S. immigration system grinding to a halt. In the early hours of Monday morning, USCIS employees received emails telling them the furloughs would begin on August 3 and last for at least 30 days, with the potential to last three months or longer, according to sources within USCIS. Employees were told last week that around 73% of the agency’s entire staff would be put out of work temporarily. USCIS confirmed the furloughs in a statement to VICE News. “Though we continue to have productive conversations with Congress, we want employees who may be furloughed to have sufficient time to prepare,” a spokesperson said. “Further, we are legally required to provide employees with advance written notice at least 30 calendar days prior to the effective date of an expected furlough.” USCIS has nearly 20,000 employees total. Unlike most other federal agencies, a significant amount of the USCIS’s $14.8 billion operating budget — nearly 97%, according to congressional testimony from 2019 — comes from immigration fees. The reasoning given to employees for the furlough was declining revenues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis. That isn’t the whole story, however, according to what USCIS employees told VICE News. “What they aren’t saying is that in addition to COVID-19, Trump keeps canceling visa categories that make us money, like H-1B [visas], certain J1s, and green card applications,” an officer furloughed within USCIS told VICE News. H-1Bs alone usually cost thousands in fees, usually paid for by the employer. Nearly 1,500 staff members out of around 2,200 were furloughed in the agency’s Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations division, with more than 600 of those workers in non-supervisory roles. (A source told VICE News that the furloughs were top-heavy so those remaining could adjudicate, or approve or deny cases.) “We’re left with a skeleton crew, and we’re trying to keep as much adjudicative and administrative work as possible to keep the lights on,” Jennifer Higgins, the RAIO division’s associate director, told staff in a Monday morning meeting, according to sources who attended. On May 15, USCIS requested a $1.2 billion cash infusion from Congress “to ensure we can carry out our mission of administering our nation's lawful immigration system, safeguarding its integrity, and protecting the American people,” the spokesperson said. USCIS would pay the money back to the Treasury via a 10% surcharge added to applications. Higgins said during the meeting that she was hopeful that Congress would give the agency the money it requested, but that it would be a “nailbiter,” and probably wouldn’t happen until the end of July at the earliest. ”If Trump is reelected I have no doubt that the refugee program will cease to exist,” another immigration officer set to be furloughed told VICE News. “That our nation, one founded on the backs of immigrants will turn away those who are so deserving of the chance of a life of peace and prosperity. My heart aches for families longing to be reunited who may never have that chance.” - See the full Vice article.
Boston's Immigration Court Set to Reopen - Critics Say It's Too Soon Boston's immigration court is among a handful of those nationwide scheduled to reopen Monday June 29 for what are called non-detained cases — hearings for individuals who aren't currently jailed in federal detention. Some immigration attorneys, judges and elected officials worry the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), the government office which oversees the country's immigration courts, is rushing the reopening and potentially jeopardizing public health. Boston and most other immigration courts have been open for in-person hearings only for those in detention throughout the pandemic. Eliana Nader is a Boston-based immigration attorney and newly elected chair of the New England chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). She has multiple concerns about the court reopening, both in terms of stemming the spread of the coronavirus and upholding due process. "People, because they're so scared of being deported, I fear will go to court even if they're ill," Nader said. "And there's been no guidance as to how we can call and request that somebody not have to show up or how we can have presence waived or anything like that." Judge Ashley Tabaddor is president of the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ), which has been critical of the EOIR's handling of court business throughout the pandemic. Tabaddor said immigration judges have been excluded from the decision making process around reopening. "We've also heard from the judges that already there are a lot of requests for the cases that are scheduled to go forward this coming week, for those cases to be continued because as you can imagine, people have been pretty much in lockdown for a number of months," Tabaddor said. "Time hasn't been available for the attorneys or for all of the parties to be ready for the court hearing." Tabaddor added that the NAIJ has no confidence in the government's ability to notify all individuals of their new hearing dates, especially considering the staff shortages across the immigration court system. Nader said she understands the current circumstances are challenging and that the immigration courts are navigating new territory. But she's worried that confusion around the rescheduling of hearing dates could result in people not showing up for their day in court, especially for the majority of immigrants who are not represented by attorneys. If someone misses their preliminary immigration court hearing they are generally considered a no-show and ordered deported "in absentia." - See the full WBUR story.
Substance Use Treatment Changing at Plymouth Prison The Baker Administration is removing correctional officers and expanding treatment programming at the troubled prison facility in Plymouth used to treat men civilly committed for substance use. The shift in approach follows a lawsuit alleging abusive treatment at the facility and a legislative committee recommending these men no longer be kept there. “By transitioning to a care-based model rather than a correctional one, MASAC has undergone a comprehensive transformation,” said Jake Wark, a spokesman for the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. “The transition reflects the facility’s core mission to provide treatment, and it significantly expands the therapeutic and programming options available to our patients during a safe, structured, medically-monitored detoxification.” But advocates say the administration’s plan does not go far enough, and the state should instead abolish the practice of keeping civilly committed men in a prison-like setting. Elizabeth Matos, executive director at Prisoners’ Legal Services said Massachusetts is the only state to use prisons as secure treatment facilities for civilly committed men. Her group argues that the Department of Public Health should be in charge of any treatment facility, not the Department of Correction. Civil commitment, often referred to as Section 35, is a process by which a family member, doctor, or police officer can petition a judge to have someone involuntarily confined because they pose a danger to themselves or others due to alcohol or drug addiction. Historically in Massachusetts, this confinement has taken place at a mix of public health facilities and prisons. After a lawsuit led to legislation banning the practice of holding civilly committed women in correctional facilities, women are now held at centers run by the state departments of public health or mental health. But men continue to be held at either a public health-run addiction treatment center, a facility run by Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi at the Ludlow jail, or at MASAC, the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Use Center in Plymouth. MASAC is run by the state Department of Correction. A lawsuit brought by Prisoners’ Legal Services in March 2019 seeking to end the practice of holding civilly committed men in correctional facilities describes filthy conditions and degrading treatment at MASAC. Men held there have testified before the Legislature about abusive practices. A bill pending before the Legislature would eliminate the practice of holding civilly committed men at correctional facilities. A majority of the Section 35 Commission, formed to make recommendations regarding civil commitments, voted to recommend ending the practice of keeping civilly committed men in criminal justice facilities. The new MASAC treatment model, outlined in a legislatively required report by the Department of Correction that was distributed to advocacy groups, began May 10. It moved MASAC to a treatment model using the same standards as facilities run by the Department of Mental Health. The center’s capacity will drop from 251 beds to 160 beds. Sentenced inmates have been moved out of the facility. Inside, day to day operation of the facility will be overseen by Wellpath, the state’s contracted provider of medical services. Staff will be clinically trained and out of uniform. Residential service coordinators hired by Wellpath will patrol the units to provide safety and security functions, and will be trained in tactics like de-escalation of volatile behavior. Private vendors will provide food and housecleaning services. According to the plan, Wellpath will provide round-the-clock nursing supervision and will add new programming. Mental health programming will be made available to inmates for up to 11 hours a day, and there will be programs on evenings and weekends. There will be art, music, social interactions, and physical wellness programming. In addition to therapy for mental health issues, programs will address things like life skills, stress reduction, discharge planning, and other aspects of wellness. Men will be allowed to use methadone, a medication assisted treatment to get people off drugs, under the supervision of another medical contractor. Wellpath will have two years in which to obtain accreditation as a residential opioid treatment facility. Residents will have a Patient Bill of Rights, which includes things like the right to phone calls, uncensored mail, visitors, and access to the outdoors. - See the full Commonwealth Magazine article.
COVID-19 in DCF Group Homes More than 8 percent of children living in Department of Children and Families group homes and similar settings have contracted the coronavirus, a figure that far outstrips the rate among young people elsewhere in the state. The first case of COVID-19 in so-called congregate care surfaced in early April, according to DCF officials, and similar to other corners of Massachusetts, the virus has proliferated since. Of the roughly 1,700 children in state custody living in group homes or residential school settings, 144 have so far contracted the virus. State officials have not reported any COVID deaths among children in DCF group care, and none of those who tested positive are believed to have been hospitalized, said Maria Z. Mossaides, the head of the state’s independent Office of the Child Advocate. All but one child has recovered as of June 23, the last time state officials updated their weekly disclosure of cases at various state facilities. But the share of children who’ve become infected stands in stark contrast to the virus’s apparently scant spread among young people statewide. Of the state’s nearly 109,000 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases, about 5 percent were under the age of 20. And those roughly 5,800 cases account for less than 0.4 percent of the nearly 1.6 million people living in Massachusetts who are 19 years old or younger. The data offer what officials say is another example of how congregate living situations, such as nursing homes or independent living centers, can be ripe for spread. They also note that children in group homes may be subject to more testing than the general population. But among some of the state’s most vulnerable children, it also underscores another concern, advocates say: the outsized impact the virus has had on people of color. Hispanic and Black people made up 47 percent of minor children in congregate care, according to DCF’s most recent annual report, even though they account for just 19 percent of the state’s total population. White people made up 41 percent of those in congregate care, where children live under 24-hour supervision in group settings. State officials have released little publicly on the children in group care who have tested positive, including their age, race, or gender — information that is regularly collected and disclosed on other COVID cases statewide. And the information that is regularly released on DCF group homes, which are run by outside vendors, is limited: It doesn’t include the number of cases among staff members, nor does it show the location of the group homes that have reported cases. The thin disclosures have frustrated child advocates and attorneys, who say that despite formal state guidance for group homes on navigating the pandemic, they’ve heard anecdotal reports of protocols varying widely in settings where quarantining children — who often share rooms and bathrooms — is already difficult. State officials defended their handling of congregate care settings. They said the department’s leaders have held weekly or biweekly calls with group home providers in addition to offering mobile testing at homes starting April 10. State officials last updated a 19-page set of guidelines for group homes on April 14, included telling homes to exclude any staff members who test positive from returning to work for at least seven days until after they were tested. The state also requires that all staff be screened before entering a facility, to further guard against potential spread. - See the full Boston Globe article.
Postpartum Depression Resources Postpartum Depression resources from the The MA Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition are available online at: www.mass.gov/postpartum-depression. The site includes sections for mothers, their loved-ones and healthcare providers. - Thanks to Stephanie Paskievich for sharing this resource.
Public Guardian Services Public Guardian Services is a pilot project in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Probate and Family Court providing guardianship and conservatorship services to Massachusetts residents in Suffolk and Plymouth Counties. We serve as a guardian of last resort for those who are decisionally impaired and for whom have no other suitable person available to assist. Our goal is to provide the highest quality guardianship services while honoring our clients’ wishes so they can live as independently and comfortably as possible. Public Guardian Services is also a place to turn for family members and other people acting as guardians for someone in need. They offer advice, support & training to those acting as a guardian in Suffolk and Plymouth counties. - See their full FAQs page. - Thanks to Jennifer Kubic Knight for sharing this resource.
LINC Program- Housing and Benefits Legal Assist for Health Center Patients The Legal Initiative for Care (LINC) is a medical-legal partnership between Mass General and the Lawyers for Civil Rights. The project was launched in 2003 to improve the health and well-being of low-income families, who are patients of the primary care practices at the MGH Chelsea Healthcare Center. The goal of the program is to address legal issues that may affect the patient’s health. LINC focuses on housing stability and family income, the two social determinants of health viewed as most critical to the child and family’s health. The program has recently expanded eligibility to any patient with an MGH Health Center PCP (Charlestown, Everett and Revere in addition to Chelsea). Examples of services offered include
To refer, please complete an EPICAmbulatory Referral to MGH Community Health or you can just type MGH CHC. When prompted to select a program, click “Legal Advocacy: LINC”. - Thanks to Anna Spiro for her assistance with this article.
MGH Cancer Center’s Young Adult Program Launches Private Facebook Group The MGH Cancer Center’s Young Adult program has heard from patients and caregivers about the need for platforms for Young Adult patients to connect and build relationships. COVID has paused our ability to do this physically, but we have been working to build a social media platform to provide support, social networking, and educational opportunities for our young adult patients. We're starting with a Facebook page and private group and wanted to share with you all to pass along to your patients. You can access the Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/YAPMGHCC Those requesting to join the Facebook group, will be asked to answer two yes/no questions to verify that they are a young adult patient at MGH. Moving forward, they will also be using the page to post relevant news and events. Please feel to share any upcoming events or information that you are aware of so we can inform others. - Thanks to Sara Stevens for sharing this information.
HousingMatch.org Launching July 1, Housingmatch.org is a private online shared housing community. Members access the database to post and search ads for Housing Wanted, Rooms for Rent and Housing Offered. Roommate members who share housing are prescreened and submit their background check report before posting an ad. The site will offer two portals:
See the full FAQ. As you or your clients use the site, the Community Resource Center would be interested in learning about your and your patients’ experiences.
Medical Air Transportation - Patient AirLift Services (PALS) Resumes Services The decision to pause our missions due to COVID-19 was a very hard one to make, knowing how important our work is to so many. On behalf of our Board of Directors and staff, thank you so much for your understanding. All decisions have been made with our passengers’ and pilots’ best interests at heart. - Donna Collins, Executive Director, June 11, 2020.
Farmers Market Coupons for Eligible Cambridge and Somerville Residents Somerville Cambridge Elder Services is providing farmers’ market coupons for eligible participants starting mid-July, 2020. Coordinated through the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, the program provides income eligible older adults with $25 in coupon vouchers to purchase locally grown produce at participating farmers’ markets. Coupons can be used to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey. For more information on how to receive the coupons, please call the Nutrition Department at Somerville Cambridge Elder Services at 617-628-2601. Coupons are limited and available while supplies last. If coupons run out, applicants may request to be put on a waiting list. Coupon Information
Eligibility Guidelines
- Source: https://eldercare.org/the-2020-farmers-market-coupon-season-is-here/
MassHealth Cost Sharing Rule Changes New cost-sharing protections take effect July 1, 2020 MassHealth has released more information about an upcoming rule change that will reduce the number of people subject to drug copays and the number of drugs subject to copays. This is not COVID-19 related; it is part of a long-awaited change needed to comply with ACA income-based cost-sharing protections. Phase 1 starts July 1. In phase 1, certain individuals and drugs will be exempt from copays:
In phase 2, expected in 2021, the copay cap will be adjusted from a fixed dollar amount ($250 per year) to a cap of 2% of income. In other words, those earning above $12,500 would be subject to a higher cap on copays. What is not changing: drug copays are still no more than $3.65 and pharmacies still cannot refuse to fill a prescription if MassHealth members cannot afford copays. No new copays are being proposed. The $3 copay for an inpatient hospital stay was repealed in March 2020. MassHealth has already started mailing letters to members with information about the copay changes. There is a PowerPoint on the MassHealth Training Forum website with more information posted here. - Adapted from Health Update, Vicki Pulos, MLRI, June 3, 2020. See also: MassHealth Pharmacy Facts Addendum Additional Detail (added 7/1/20)
Health Connector Offers New Ways to Pay Bills and Read Notices Based on member feedback, the Health Connector has been working on making changes. Starting in July, members will start to see some of these changes including:
Health Connector members don't need to take any action related to these changes. They should just keep paying their bills as usual. Members who are having any trouble with paying bills at this time can review their options to see if they can get help. The Health Connector will be sending members more details about these changes in the coming days. Review the member mailer to get familiar with the upcoming changes. Please note that while changes are being made, the Health Connector's Customer Service and some online features will be unavailable:
Members can call, pay online, and see the new features starting Monday, July 6. Please note that when the Member Portal is available on Monday, on July 6, some notices may not be available to view immediately while we are transitioning the remaining notices and bills. There will be a banner with the following language on the Member Portal:
- MA Health Care Training Forum, June 22, 2020.
When Health Care Moves Online, Many Patients Are Left Behind Amid the coronavirus pandemic, more of the nation’s medical care is being delivered by telephone or videoconference, as in-person care becomes a last resort for both doctors and patients. That’s a problem for tens of millions of Americans without smartphones or speedy home internet connections. For them, the digital divide is exacerbating preexisting disparities in access to health care. “The internet is no longer a luxury. It’s now a necessity,” says Pediatric kidney specialist Ray Bignall. “I don’t think anybody in 2020 would claim not having internet in their home would be OK. We’ve got to start thinking about access to internet as a utility, just like power and water and sewer.” To that end, Jorge Rodriguez, a physician at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital who also studies health care technology disparities, suggests clinics should routinely screen for connectivity when patients reach the front desk. That’s not yet standard practice—meaning many health care systems don’t know which families can easily videoconference, and which are sharing a limited number of monthly minutes on a smartphone. “Let’s just get a sense of where our patients are,” he says. “Most places are not even doing that.” -See the full Wired article, June 8, 2020.
How the Unemployment Insurance System is Failing Workers of Color The protests sweeping the United States (and cities around the world) over the past couple of weeks reflect not just rightful outrage over the heinous murders of George Floyd and others. They are the product of pent-up rage at systemic disparities that make daily life unstable, undignified, and unsafe for people and communities of color. As we at the Academy grapple with how our work has sought to help reduce these disparities, and how we have fallen short, the most recent data on joblessness and poverty trends shine a spotlight on both, illuminating the urgent work ahead of us. When we research and write about the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, which is designed to support individual workers and their families in periods of joblessness and help them return to the labor force, while also boosting the economy, we tend to highlight averages, and too often obscure the large disparities they mask. Compounding lower rates of labor force participation and higher odds of losing their jobs, African American, Latinx, and immigrant workers are concentrated in the kinds of jobs that exclude them from UI coverage. These disparities leave jobless Black and Brown workers without needed support, irrespective of the reasons for their lack of employment. Systemic racial biases embedded in what we deem criminal, and who we choose to prosecute, depress African Americans’ labor force participation rates relative to those of their white counterparts. Moreover, employed men and women of color disproportionately work in the most precarious jobs. And it is not only such jobs that reflect racial injustice; at any given occupation or level of educational attainment, Black workers earn less. As the pandemic has made starkly clear, those who have been “lucky” enough to still have jobs faced the highest risks of illness and death, and are paying a disproportionate price. States’ premature re-openings – with governors acting in direct contradiction of caveats issued by public health experts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – have concentrated workers of color, especially immigrants, in the most dangerous job locations with few choices (warehouses and meatpacking plants continue to be hotspots). Their orders have meant that workers, who had avoided being on the front lines with little or no protection, are no longer eligible for emergency UI benefits. Communities of color are put at heightened risk while providing an economic boost for wealthier white Americans who are largely able to avoid the risk. Indeed, according to recent poll data, the vast majority of workers and business owners of color are reluctant to reopen. They understand both their own increased risk and the willingness of white Americans, who are more eager to reopen, to have them assume it. Now, as jobs rebound for the first time, the massive disparity between white workers gaining ground, versus Latinx workers stuck at historic high levels of unemployment and African Americans continuing to lose ground, reflects and magnifies the realities that workers of color have too long faced: Both the labor market as a whole – and the UI system that is supposed to bolster, smooth, and stabilize it – is failing them.
The concern among some in Congress that extending emergency UI protections – which has been the norm in prior recessions, even lesser ones – would provide “perverse disincentives” for people to not return to their jobs, or seek new ones, reflects a fundamental misconception. Social insurance has a central role to play in this revisiting and rebuilding. We at the Academy look forward to identifying policy options that help it fulfill that role for all workers and their families, in every community across the country. - See the full National Academy of Social Insurance discussion.
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