Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
While cash aid declines, more get food stamps
MORONGO BASIN - A San Bernardino County welfare assessment shows 2003 saw a slowing but continued decline in the number of people here receiving cash aid from the government. However, food stamp and Medi-Cal caseloads increased significantly, due to a combination of a slower economy and changes in regulation that made more people eligible for aid.
In Yucca Valley, 5.3 percent of the population was receiving cash benefits at Jan. 1, 2004, but 19.5 percent received some form of welfare aid - cash, food stamps or Medi-Cal.
The local average is just over the county's overall total; 15.7 percent of county residents get some form of welfare.
Slightly less people in town got all forms of government in 2003 than did the year prior: 6.3 percent of the population received cash and 20 percent got some kind of aid in 2002.
In Yucca Valley, 1,124 people received $207,329 in cash aid in 2002. The population and cash amount lowered to 991 people getting $200,509 in 2003.
Throughout the county, the City of San Bernardino reported the highest percentage of the population on aid - 13.2 percent of its residents received $4.6 million in cash aid in 2003.
The financial value of all government assistance - cash, food stamps and Medi-Cal - sent to Yucca Valley totaled $20 million last year, up from $18 million in 2002. It's a small portion of the $1.6 billion paid through welfare in the entire county.
Unincorporated areas of the Hi-Desert followed the county-wide trend as less people received cash aid but more received Medi-Cal and food stamps, compared to 2002.
In Joshua Tree, 115 fewer people were on government cash assistance and they got $4,057 less this year. At Jan. 1, 478 people were getting $96,353 in cash aid.
But Medi-Cal and food stamp payments jumped last year. Medi-Cal payments to Joshua Tree totaled $632,594 - $86,144 more than in 2002. Food stamp values totaled $61,621 last year - $3,253 more than in 2002.
The trend was similar in Morongo Valley, where cash benefits to 89 people totaled $18,334 last year, down from the 116 people who got $18,817 in 2002.
Again, though, Medi-Cal and food stamp payments were higher. Morongo Valley people received $147,011 in Medi-Cal - $18,498 more than in 2002. Food stamp payments totaled $12,896 - $1,542 more than the previous year.
In Pioneertown, fewer than 15 people collected less than $3,000 in cash benefits and food stamps in both '02 and '03.
Twenty people received $14,985 worth of Medi-Cal benefits in 2003. Six fewer people were on Medi-Cal in '02, but they received $1,306 more.
In Landers, 144 people got $29,057 in cash aid last year, one person and $1,870 more than in 2002.
Medi-Cal payments to Landers people totalled $169,286 in 2003; they were $133,553 the year before.
Landers received $17,410 in food stamps, a jump of $3,754.
In Yucca Valley, 5.3 percent of the population was receiving cash benefits at Jan. 1, 2004, but 19.5 percent received some form of welfare aid - cash, food stamps or Medi-Cal.
The local average is just over the county's overall total; 15.7 percent of county residents get some form of welfare.
Slightly less people in town got all forms of government in 2003 than did the year prior: 6.3 percent of the population received cash and 20 percent got some kind of aid in 2002.
In Yucca Valley, 1,124 people received $207,329 in cash aid in 2002. The population and cash amount lowered to 991 people getting $200,509 in 2003.
Throughout the county, the City of San Bernardino reported the highest percentage of the population on aid - 13.2 percent of its residents received $4.6 million in cash aid in 2003.
The financial value of all government assistance - cash, food stamps and Medi-Cal - sent to Yucca Valley totaled $20 million last year, up from $18 million in 2002. It's a small portion of the $1.6 billion paid through welfare in the entire county.
Unincorporated areas of the Hi-Desert followed the county-wide trend as less people received cash aid but more received Medi-Cal and food stamps, compared to 2002.
In Joshua Tree, 115 fewer people were on government cash assistance and they got $4,057 less this year. At Jan. 1, 478 people were getting $96,353 in cash aid.
But Medi-Cal and food stamp payments jumped last year. Medi-Cal payments to Joshua Tree totaled $632,594 - $86,144 more than in 2002. Food stamp values totaled $61,621 last year - $3,253 more than in 2002.
The trend was similar in Morongo Valley, where cash benefits to 89 people totaled $18,334 last year, down from the 116 people who got $18,817 in 2002.
Again, though, Medi-Cal and food stamp payments were higher. Morongo Valley people received $147,011 in Medi-Cal - $18,498 more than in 2002. Food stamp payments totaled $12,896 - $1,542 more than the previous year.
In Pioneertown, fewer than 15 people collected less than $3,000 in cash benefits and food stamps in both '02 and '03.
Twenty people received $14,985 worth of Medi-Cal benefits in 2003. Six fewer people were on Medi-Cal in '02, but they received $1,306 more.
In Landers, 144 people got $29,057 in cash aid last year, one person and $1,870 more than in 2002.
Medi-Cal payments to Landers people totalled $169,286 in 2003; they were $133,553 the year before.
Landers received $17,410 in food stamps, a jump of $3,754.
 |
 |
|
| Rottweiler must find home or die | Ravens may be killed to save tortoises |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of hidesertstar.com.
You must register with a valid email to gain access to this site feature.
Already a Member?Login Here:
|
Become a Registered MemberFill out the form below.
|
RSS
GGWebGrrl wrote on Jan 17, 2009 1:59 PM: