Event Date
Mar 13, 2025
Event Location
State House Library
Event Details
Rhode Island Works, the state's cash assistance program that's funded through the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, needs reform to keep Rhode Island's most vulnerable children out of deep poverty. The time to act is now!
Join the Raising Rhode Island Coalition on Thursday, March 13, at 3 PM at the State House Library for Raising RI's kickoff highlighting to legislators the urgency of protecting children from families living in deep poverty.
Raising RI asks for your help to advocate for 4 key reforms to RI Works:
- Annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment: Help families keep pace with rising expenses by increasing the monthly benefit to 50% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Currently, the maximum monthly benefit is 40% of the FPL. Boosting it to 50% would help bridge the gap between deep poverty and a standard of living that allows families to meet their basic needs, and it would not cost the state any money thanks to the federal TANF block grant.
- Child Support: Increase the current child support pass-through from $50 to $100 for one child and $200 for two or more children.
- Restore Support for Legal Permanent Residents: Ensure every child gets the essential support they need by eliminating the five-year wait.
- Baby Bonds: Pass the Baby Bond Act, which would create a $3,000 trust for each baby born into a family being supported by RI Works.