The League of Women Voters
of New Jersey

a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose purpose is to promote political responsibility
through informed and active participation in government

Louise Murray, LouiseAMurray@aol.com

Background: The Standard of Need is a benchmark for the legislature in determining payment levels for welfare (Temporary Assistance to needy families and General Assistance (to childless individuals)). Obviously, the accuracy of the Standard of Need has dramatic consequences for low income New Jeryseyans. As explained in the 200-2002 Study and Action, the LWVNJ has advocated using a valid standard of need since the 1980s. In recent years, the issue has not had prominence, but within the past few weeks, the Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey, of which the LWVNJ is an affiliate, has renewed interest in this issue.

In early January, the NJ Department of Human Services proposed a rule change for the Standard of Need in The New Jersey Register. In brief, the Department stated that they were seeking public comment by providing the public 60 days to submit written comment.

According to the Anti-Poverty Network, the proposed changes to the Standard of Need underestimate the true costs of meeting the basic necessities. For example, in computing housing costs, the proposed Standard of Need computes rental costs by taking the 40 to 50th percentile of the federal Department of Housing and Human Development estimates for Fair Market Rent. In addition, the proposed Standard of Need assumes that families will have no costs for health and childcare. (While no rationale is given, I assume that the DHS assumes that all low-income families will receive other public assistance for these needs, and we know such coverage is not universally available.)

The Anti-Poverty Network is seeking to have at least 100 individuals sign letters requesting that the Department of Human Services convene a hearing on the proposed changes. By law, if at least 100 individuals request a public hearing, a hearing must be held. These letters must be received by the state by February 6.

The Anti-Poverty Network believes that by having a public hearing, there is greater opportunity to educate the public about the invalidity of the Standard of Need. In the last few months, several news papers have picked up their news releases, and I am happy to say that we have be listed as a member of the network, so we are getting some press.

At our meeting on January 26, the State Board members who were present, along with our Executive Director, Linda Gentry, signed a letter to the Department of Human Services official responsible for rulemaking asking that a public hearing be held. I have attached this letter along with the copy of the letter we sent to the Anti-Poverty Network. The APN is collating the letters to ensure that the DHS follows up on convening a hearing once 100 signatures are received.

I have appreciated hearing from local Leagues about our work with the APN and hope that others can copy our letter and forward their own letters to the NJ State Department of Human Services and send a copy to Mr. Mellville Miller, chair of the APN.

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