BOSTON — Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg joined Crittenton Women’s Union (CWU) and Senator Michael O. Moore, chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education, to release “Beyond Financial Aid 2015: A Guide to Extra Help for Low-Income Adult Students.” The guide, created and published by CWU in partnership with the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, informs low-income adult students who are struggling to pay for tuition, fees, and books while also covering their day-to-day living expenses about their eligibility for public family financial assistance programs while pursuing a degree.
“Increasing opportunity for women to achieve stability and security is crucial for our economy overall. This is especially true for low-income women who are often supporting a family on their own, while going to school,” said Treasurer Goldberg. “Today earning a college degree is the key to securing a job with a living wage, and our mission is to support women, so they can stay in school and stay on course towards personal financial independence.”
The 27-page “Beyond Financial Aid 2015” guide provides information on programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TAFDC (Transitional Assistance to Families with Dependent Children), public health insurance plans, child care assistance, LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), and subsidized housing. The guide also provides detail on how to receive financial assistance for higher education and various tax benefits including child tax credits, education tax benefits, and the Earned Income Tax Credit for low wage workers.
“We at Crittenton Women’s Union share Treasurer Goldberg’s commitment to helping more people realize the benefits of economic empowerment. We’ve seen through the experience of participants in CWU programs the importance of higher education and training in moving low-income women out of poverty and into a life of stable economic independence,” said Elisabeth Babcock, president & CEO of Crittenton Women’s Union. “Low-income women who are working to move out of poverty juggle so much in their lives: child care, jobs, and education. We publish the Beyond Financial Aid guide to make sure they are aware of the public assistance programs that can help them stay in school and continue on a course to economic independence.”
The Beyond Financial Aid 2015: A Guide to Extra Help for Low-Income Students is available for download from the Crittenton Women’s Union website www.liveworkthrive.org or Beyond Financial Aid 2015 and The Massachusetts State Treasurer’s Office www.mass.gov/treasury.
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