(2023-01-10-pass-through-more-money-to-low-income-families)Human Services Department to pass through more money to low-income families (2023-01-10)#
(2023-01-10-pass-through-more-money-to-low-income-families)(block-1)Human Services Department to pass through more money to low-income families#
New child support distribution rules will result in as much as $6.9 million paid to families first rather than government recovery
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) today announced that they are implementing changes to the way child support collections are distributed to benefit families first rather than paying back the state and federal government for the time low-income families were on TANF cash assistance benefits.
HSD is increasing the amount of child support payments that are passed through to families who are currently on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance program effective Jan. 1, 2023. The increased pass through and distribution changes are allowed by the federal government without penalty to the state.
The pass-through amounts are as follows:
An increment from $100 to up to $200 for families with two or more children when a child support payment of at least the same amount is made.
For a family with one child, the amount will remain at $100 when a child support payment of at least that amount is made.
“This change will benefit low-income families and children in New Mexico,” said David R. Scrase, M.D., cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Human Services Department. “A pass through of an additional $100 can make a real difference to a family who is living below the federal poverty line, which is what it takes to even qualify for TANF cash assistance.”
HSD’s Child Support Program received $1.74 million in funding during the 2022 legislative session that allows the larger pass-through to families currently receiving TANF cash assistance. The funding also allows HSD to change the way it distributes collections to families formerly on the TANF program. The new distribution change will be effective Jan. 23, 2023. These two new changes to the Child Support Program will benefit as many as 8,000 families.
“Distributing payments to families first will result in as much as $6.9 million going into family household budgets each year to help with the costs of raising children,” said Kari Armijo , HSD Deputy Secretary. “In addition, just by making the distribution changes, New Mexico families are likely to benefit with more child support payments being made, as studies show non-custodial parents are more likely to make payments when they know the payments are going directly to custodial parent and the child.”
“Passing through more collections to families is one of the most important of our modernization initiatives, but our efforts won’t stop there,” said Betina Gonzales McCracken , HSD’s Child Support Program Acting Director. “We will continue to find efficiencies in establishing and enforcing child and medical support orders to ensure children have the financial and medical coverage they need to grow up happy and healthy.”
The New Mexico Child Support program began a concerted effort in 2019 to implement national best practices and modernization efforts that positively impact the families and children it serves. The state’s Child Support Program was recognized with the 2022 Excellence Award from the Western Intergovernmental Child Support Engagement Council for its modernization efforts.
The New Mexico Child Support collected $130.3 million in Fiscal Year 2022 and serves more than 177,000 parents and children in over 50,000 cases.
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We talk, interpret and smile in all languages. We provide written information to our customers in both English and Spanish and interpretation services are available in 58 languages through our provider, CTS Language Link . For our hearing, and speech impaired customers, we utilize Relay New Mexico , a free 24-hour service that ensures equal communication access via the telephone to individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or speech disabled.
The Human Services Department provides services and benefits to 1,088,981 New Mexicans through several programs including: the Medicaid Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Child Support Program, and several Behavioral Health Services.
(2023-09-01-23-percent-increase-in-cash-assistance)State announces a 23 percent increase in cash assistance for low-income New Mexico families (2023-09-01)#
(2023-09-01-23-percent-increase-in-cash-assistance)(block-1)State announces a 23 percent increase in cash assistance for low-income New Mexico families#
Over 9,000 low-income New Mexicans saw an increase in monthly cash assistance through the TANF program
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) today announced over 9,000 low-income New Mexicans received a 23 percent increase in payments from cash assistance programs for families struggling with the rising cost of living. As of August 2023, financial assistance payments increased for a family of four from $539 to $663. This is the first increase in cash assistance for New Mexicans since 2011.
The cash assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program was substantially increased during the 2023 New Mexico Legislative Session, through House Bill 2 and signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. TANF provides a monthly cash assistance used to meet basic needs such as housing, utilities, and clothing.
“We know the costs of basic needs have increased in recent times, such as transportation, shelter and utilities for our customers making it difficult to make ends meet,” said Kathy Slater-Huff , acting deputy secretary for the New Mexico Human Services Department. “This increase in monthly cash assistance will help pay for necessities and make life a little easier for over 9,000 New Mexicans.”
HSD administers the federal TANF program, known in New Mexico as NMWorks. The program helps New Mexico families overcome financial barriers and provide resources to help low-income New Mexicans across the state.
To qualify for TANF, a person must:
Live in New Mexico.
Be below income and resource limits set for the program.
Have dependent children aged 18 or younger who are citizens or have eligible immigration status.
If children are 19, they must be a full-time high school student expected to graduate before the end of the month in which they become 20.
Provide information on monthly income: Eligibility guidelines are provided HERE .
Most people who qualify for TANF may qualify for other services provided by HSD. Use the HSD Field Office Locator to find your local Family Community Resource Center or contact the Customer Service Center from 7:00 a.m. -6:30 p.m., Monday-Friday at 1-800-283-4465.
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We talk, interpret and smile in all languages. We provide written information to our customers in both English and Spanish and interpretation services are available in 58 languages through our provider, CTS Language Link . For our hearing, and speech impaired customers, we utilize Relay New Mexico , a free 24-hour service that ensures equal communication access via the telephone to individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or speech disabled.
The Human Services Department provides services and benefits to 1,034,001 New Mexicans through several programs including: the Medicaid Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Child Support Program, and several Behavioral Health Services.