The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is already helping thousands of children and families in Delaware County. Here's how.
| How PA Benefits | People Helped | Explanation of Benefits |
| Tax Relief | 237,570 | Taxpaying individuals and households – all but high earners qualify for taxpayer relief |
| Unemployment Compensation | 6,400 | Jobless adults will receive a boost in Unemployment Compensation |
| Health Insurance for Unemployed | 17,400 | Unemployed persons qualify for more help purchasing health insurance |
| Health Insurance | 75,022 | Low income children and adults will continue to have access to health care through Medical Assistance |
| Children's Health Insurance | 8,191 | Children and teenagers will continue to receive their health care through Pennsylvania’s CHIP and Cover All Kids. |
| Food Assistance | 45,758 | Hungry children and adults will receive more help through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps) |
Individuals earning up to $75,000 will receive a $400 tax credit in 2009 and 2010. Married couples filing jointly and earning up to $150,000 will receive a $800 tax credit. 237,570 individuals and households in Delaware County filed state tax returns in 2006 and will likely qualify for a tax credit.
There were 6,400 unemployed persons in Delaware County who qualified for unemployment compensation at the beginning of the year. The Recovery Act will help these Pennsylvanians with a $25 per week increase in unemployment benefits through the rest of the year. It also provides additional weeks of benefits through December 31, 2009.
The Recovery Act will help make health care available to individuals who are involuntarily separated from their jobs. A new COBRA subsidy will pay 65 percent of the monthly premium for individuals earning less than $145,000 and couples earning less than $290,000. Individuals who were separated from their employment after September 1, 2008 and before January 1, 2010 will likely be eligible. There were 17,400 unemployed persons in Delaware County at the beginning of the year who could potentially benefit from this provision of the Recovery Act.
The Recovery Act will make it possible for low income children, adults and families to continue to receive their health care through the Pennsylvania Medical Assistance program. 75,022 persons in Delaware County received help from Medical Assistance at the beginning of the year. Federal support will also help 8,191 children and teens in Delaware who are not eligible for Medical Assistance receive health care through Pennsylvania’s Cover All Kids program.
The Recovery Act will help low income individuals and families with a 13.69% increase in the maximum Food Stamp benefit (effective April 2009). It also suspends the 3 month limit on assistance for many unemployed childless adults for the next 18 months. 45,758 persons in Delaware County received help from Food Stamps at the beginning of the year.