>> Sreenivasan: THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION HAS SIGNALED THAT
IT WANTS TO CHANGE MANY OF
AMERICA'S SOCIAL SAFETY NET
PROGRAMS.
ONE OF ITS MAIN IDEAS IS ADDING
OR EXPANDING THE REQUIREMENT TO
WORK IN EXCHANGE FOR BENEFITS.
IN TONIGHT'S SIGNATURE SEGMENT,
NEWSHOUR WEEKEND'S MEGAN
THOMPSON WENT TO MAINE, WHICH
ALREADY HAS WORK REQUIREMENTS
FOR SOME AID PROGRAMS.
IT IS ALSO AT THE CENTER OF A
DEBATE WHETHER THESE PROVISIONS
GENUINELY HELP THOSE IN NEED.
THIS STORY IS PART OF OUR
ONGOING SERIES ABOUT POVERTY AND
OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA: "CHASING
THE DREAM."
>> Reporter: IN A RURAL POCKET
OF MAINE, EAST OF AUGUSTA, 50-
YEAR-OLD TIM KEEFE LIVES IN A
SPARTAN TWO-ROOM TRAILER WITHOUT
A BATHROOM OR EVEN RUNNING
WATER.
A NAVY VETERAN, HE'S SINGLE AND
HAS TWO GROWN DAUGHTERS.
>> WE DON'T NEED TOO MUCH
REFRIGERATION THIS TIME OF YEAR.
>> Reporter: HIS ONLY INCOME IS
ABOUT $200 DOLLARS A MONTH IN
FOOD STAMPS.
>> YOU HAVE TO KIND OF FIGURE
OUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED
FOR EACH DAY AND WHAT YOU CAN
GET AWAY WITH.
YOU'RE NOT EATING LIKE A KING,
BUT YOU'RE EATING.
SO THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART.
>> Reporter: BUT NOT TOO LONG
AGO, THINGS WERE EVEN MORE
DIFFICULT FOR KEEFE.
HE WAS WORKING AT A
MANUFACTURING PLANT WHEN HE
SUFFERED A WRIST INJURY THAT
REQUIRED MULTIPLE SURGERIES.
HE LOST HIS JOB, AND THEN HIS
HOME.
>> IN HERE, THIS IS WHERE I
SPENT LAST WINTER.
>> Reporter: FOR A TIME, KEEFE
LIVED IN A SMALL TENT, WARMED BY
AN ELECTRIC HEATER.
>> YOU'RE BASICALLY STUCK IN THE
TENT WHEN IT'S REALLY COLD.
IT'S JUST, IT'S SURVIVAL.
>> Reporter: ADDING TO THE
HARDSHIP, KEEFE HAD NO ACCESS TO
FOOD STAMPS.
THAT'S BECAUSE BEGINNING IN
2014, IF YOU WERE UNDER 50 AND
YOU WEREN'T CARING FOR CHILDREN,
MAINE STARTED ENFORCING A THREE
MONTH TIME LIMIT ON FOOD STAMPS,
UNLESS YOU WERE WORKING 20 HOURS
A WEEK, VOLUNTEERING, OR IN A
JOB TRAINING PROGRAM.
KEEFE COULD DO NONE OF THOSE
THINGS WITH HIS INJURED WRIST
AND HE WAS UNDER 50.
>> YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING
YOU'RE A CAVEMAN YOU'VE GOT TO
GO FIND FOOD YOU GOT TO GATHER
YOU GOTTA HUNT, YOU KNOW?
AND I TELL YOU WHEN YOU'RE WHEN
YOU HAVEN'T EATEN IN A FEW DAYS
YOUR MORALS ARE OUT THE WINDOW,
YOU KNOW, HITCHHIKING TO THE
SUPERMARKET AND ROBBING THE
SUPERMARKET FOR FOOD BECAME AN
OPTION, A VIABLE OPTION.
>> Reporter: KEEFE ESTIMATES HE
LOST 40 POUNDS DURING THE 10
MONTHS HE WENT WITHOUT FOOD
BENEFITS.
THEN, HE TURNED 50 LAST MAY, AND
BECAME ELIGIBLE AGAIN FOR FOOD
STAMPS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR SNAP.
>> I'VE GAINED IT ALL BACK.
I MEAN THE SNAP PROGRAM IS A
LIFELINE, IT REALLY IS.
>> IT IS NOT IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF ANYONE TO JUST
SIMPLY HAND OUT A CHECK.
>> Reporter: MARY MAYHEW WAS THE
COMMISSIONER OF MAINE'S
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES FROM 2011 TO 2017 UNDER
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR PAUL LEPAGE.
SHE SAYS THE STATE WAS RIPE FOR
REFORM WHEN SHE TOOK OVER
ADMINISTRATION OF ITS SAFETY NET
PROGRAMS.
>> THE DEPARTMENT HAD TRULY LOST
SIGHT OF ITS CORE MISSION.
THE WORK UNDERWAY WAS FOCUSED ON
TRYING TO BE ALL THINGS TO ALL
PEOPLE.
SUCCESS WAS DEFINED BY THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING ONTO
WELFARE, RATHER THAN THE NUMBER
OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE ON THAT
PATHWAY TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND
INDEPENDENCE.
>> Reporter: UNDER MAYHEW, MAINE
LOOKED AT THE WAGE RECORDS OF
NEARLY 7,000 ADULTS WITHOUT
DEPENDENTS, PEOPLE LIKE TIM
KEEFE, IN THE ONE YEAR AFTER
FOOD STAMP BENEFITS WERE CUT
OFF.
>> INDIVIDUALS LEFT FOOD STAMPS
WENT BACK TO WORK AND THEIR
INCOMES INCREASED BY OVER 114%.
THEY WERE EARNING MORE THAN THE
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.
EXACTLY THE GOAL THAT WE
CERTAINLY HOPED FOR AS WE
INCENTIVIZED AND PRIORITIZED
WORK.
>> Reporter: AND THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN NOTICE.
CITING MAINE'S CHANGES TO ITS
SNAP PROGRAM, IN APRIL,
PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER DIRECTING
FEDERAL AGENCIES TO STRENGTHEN
AND INTRODUCE WORK REQUIREMENTS.
MAYHEW, MEANWHILE, HAS LEFT HER
POSITION AT HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN
THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.
SHE HAS ALSO CONSULTED WITH THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ABOUT
MAINE'S EXPERIENCE WITH WORK
REQUIREMENTS.
>> I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD THAT
MAINE IS SEEN AS A MODEL.
>> MAINE IS NOT A MODEL, IT'S A
CAUTIONARY TALE.
>> Reporter: CHRIS HASTEDT IS
THE PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR FOR
MAINE EQUAL JUSTICE PARTNERS, AN
ADVOCACY GROUP REPRESENTING LOW
INCOME MAINERS.
>> THINGS ARE NOT GOING IN A
GOOD DIRECTION.
AND FOR THE FOR THOSE WHO ARGUE
THAT THESE SO-CALLED REFORMS ARE
EFFECTIVE AND WE'RE HELPING TO
RAISE FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY
AND IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO
SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.
IT'S JUST NOT HAPPENED.
>> Reporter: HASTEDT NOTES THAT
THE SAME STUDY ON FOOD STAMP
CHANGES IN MAINE TOUTED BY
MAYHEW AND THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, IS NOT ALL
POSITIVE.
>> TWO-THIRDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAD
BEEN TERMINATED STILL DID NOT
HAVE EMPLOYMENT.
THAT'S ABOUT THE SAME THAT HAD
DIDN'T HAVE EMPLOYMENT AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
BUT NOW AT THE END OF THE YEAR
THEY HAD NEITHER WAGES NOR FOOD
ASSISTANCE.
>> Reporter: SHE SAYS FORCING
PEOPLE TO WORK IGNORES THE
BARRIERS OFTEN FACED BY MANY
LOW-INCOME PEOPLE.
>> JOBS AREN'T AVAILABLE OR THE
HOURS AREN'T AVAILABLE OR
TRANSPORTATION ISN'T AVAILABLE
OR CHILDCARE ISN'T AVAILABLE.
BUT NONE OF THOSE FACTORS ARE
CONSIDERED IN THESE INFLEXIBLE
POLICIES THAT SAY YOU EITHER
WORK 20 HOURS A WEEK OR YOU
DON'T GET FOOD.
>> Reporter: HASTEDT ALSO POINTS
TO FEDERAL DATA SHOWING THAT
SINCE 2011, MAINE HAS SEEN FOOD
INSECURITY, WHICH MEASURES
ACCESS TO FOOD, INCREASE BY
NEARLY 9%, WHILE THE NATIONAL
LEVEL HAS DECLINED BY ABOUT 11%.
>> THIS IS JUST PART OF THIS
IDEOLOGICAL MARCH TOWARD A
POLICY THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE
EFFECTIVE AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO
CREATE MORE HARDSHIP FOR PEOPLE
WHO ARE IMPACTED BY IT.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SEEN HERE IN
MAINE AND THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD
EXPECT TO SEE FROM A SIMILAR
POLICY IN MEDICAID.
>> Reporter: MEDICAID, WHICH
PROVIDES HEALTHCARE FOR LOW-
INCOME AMERICANS, IS JOINTLY
ADMINISTERED BY STATES AND THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
LAST YEAR, MAINE ASKED THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ADD WORK
REQUIREMENTS TO MAINE'S MEDICAID
PROGRAM.
RICKER HAMILTON IS THE STATE'S
CURRENT COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES, WHICH
OVERSEES MEDICAID IN MAINE.
HE SUPPORTS ADDING WORK
REQUIREMENTS TO THE PROGRAM,
WHICH IS KNOWN AS MAINECARE.
>> WE DIDN'T HAVE THESE TOOLS
FOR THE PEOPLE SO THEY ONLY HAD
THE WELFARE BENEFIT, THEY ONLY
HAD MAINECARE SERVICES, SO THEY
WERE KIND OF STUCK.
AND I THINK BY HELPING PEOPLE
WHO ARE ABLE AND WANT TO WORK,
IT'S ENHANCING THE PROGRAM AND
IMPROVING THE PROGRAM.
>> Reporter: THE STATE WANTS TO
MAKE MAINECARE MORE LIKE ITS
SNAP PROGRAM.
AMONG OTHER CHANGES, IT WANTS TO
REQUIRE ABLE-BODIED ADULTS,
INCLUDING THOSE WITH CHILDREN
OVER THE AGE OF FIVE, TO WORK AT
LEAST 20 HOURS A WEEK,
VOLUNTEER, OR BE IN JOB
TRAINING.
MAINE IS ONE OF SEVEN STATES
WITH PENDING REQUESTS FOR
SIMILAR MEASURES.
KENTUCKY, INDIANA, AND ARKANSAS
HAVE ALREADY HAD WORK
REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAID
APPROVED BY THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
HAMILTON SAYS THE STATE'S
ECONOMY IS HEALTHY, AND HAS JOBS
AVAILABLE.
>> THIS IS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
THAT HASN'T EXISTED IN A VERY
LONG TIME AND I THINK IT'S TIME
FOR US TO STEP BRAVELY AS
OPPOSED TO FRET, WRING OUR
HANDS, AND SHAKE OUR HEADS, AND
SAY, "WHAT IF?"
WE NEED TO TAKE THAT STEP
FORWARD.
>> Reporter: HAMILTON POINTS TO
THE STATE'S EXPERIENCE WITH YET
ANOTHER SOCIAL SAFETY NET
PROGRAM: THE ORIGINAL "WELFARE
TO WORK" PROGRAM PROMOTED BY
PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON IN THE
1990'S.
IT'S CALLED TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE
FOR NEEDY FAMILIES, OR TANF.
IN MAINE, TO QUALIFY FOR TANF A
RECIPIENT MUST HAVE LOW OR NO
INCOME AND BE CARING FOR A
CHILD.
IN ORDER TO HELP THOSE
RECIPIENTS GET JOBS, THE STATE
PROVIDES NOT ONLY CASH
ASSISTANCE, BUT ALSO SUBSIDIZED
TRANSPORTATION AND CHILDCARE.
AS WELL AS PERSONALIZED SUPPORT
AND JOB SEARCH CLASSES.
>> I PRESUME EVERYONE IN HERE
HAS A RESUME.
>> Reporter: CLASSES LIKE THIS
ONE NEAR AUGUSTA ARE MANDATORY
FOR MOST RECIPIENTS, AND MAINE
ENFORCES A FIRM FIVE-YEAR TERM
LIMIT FOR RECEIVING TANF
BENEFITS.
28-YEAR-OLD MICHELLE YOUNG
RECEIVED A LITTLE LESS THAN $300
A MONTH IN TANF CASH ASSISTANCE,
OFF AND ON, FOR ALMOST 14 MONTHS
BEFORE AND AFTER GIVING BIRTH TO
HER DAUGHTER.
>> I HADN'T WORKED IN YEARS.
SO YOUR CONFIDENCE IS DOWN A
LITTLE BIT AND IT'S REALLY IT'S
EMBARRASSING TO HAVE TO ASK FOR
HELP.
IT'S EMBARRASSING TO HAVE TO
RECEIVE TANF.
>> Reporter: YOUNG GOT A JOB AS
AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
WORKING WITH A NONPROFIT THAT
HELPS TANF RECIPIENTS.
SHE CREDITS THE SUPPORT SHE
RECEIVED, AND THE REQUIREMENT TO
FIND EMPLOYMENT, WITH HELPING
HER GET AND KEEP A JOB.
>> YOU KNOW THE ACCOUNTABILITY,
I NEEDED IT.
>> Reporter: MAINE IS NOW
LAUNCHING A PILOT PROGRAM FOR
500 HOUSEHOLDS TO OFFER SIMILAR
WORK SUPPORTS TO SNAP
RECIPIENTS.
>> IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO GET YOU
SET UP WITH A PULMONOLOGIST NOW
THAT YOU HAVE MAINECARE.
>> Reporter: DOCTOR RENEE FAY-
LEBLANC IS THE CHIEF MEDICAL
OFFICER AT GREATER PORTLAND
HEALTH, WHERE ABOUT 35% OF ITS
NEARLY 11,000 PATIENTS ARE ON
MAINECARE.
>> MAINECARE IS IMPORTANT FOR
PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE
PLACE WHERE THEY CAN WORK,
PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
>> Reporter: MAINE ESTIMATES
THAT ELIGIBILITY FOR MAINECARE
WILL DECLINE AS A RESULT OF THE
NEW WORK REQUIREMENTS.
DR. FAY-LEBLANC SAYS THE
CONSEQUENCES FOR LOSING ACCESS
TO MAINECARE CAN BE LIFE AND
DEATH.
>> I HAD A PATIENT WHO DID NOT
HAVE MAINECARE.
HE WAS HAVING A LOT OF SYMPTOMS
THAT HADN'T BEEN EXPLAINED YET
OR DIAGNOSED AND YET HE REFUSED
TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE HE
DIDN'T WANT TO RACK UP MORE
MEDICAL DEBT.
AND THAT PATIENT DIED LAST YEAR.
AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT IF HE
HAD HAD ACCESS TO MAINECARE AND
COULD HAVE GOTTEN HIS
MEDICATIONS AND REAL THOROUGH
WORKUP FOR THE SYMPTOMS THAT HE
WAS EXPERIENCING, HE WOULDN'T
HAVE DIED.
>> MAINE TODAY IS CONSIDERED
AN ABSOLUTE NATIONAL LEADER.
>> Reporter: MARY MAYHEW HAS
MADE THE CHANGES SHE OVERSAW IN
MAINE'S SOCIAL SAFETY NET
PROGRAMS A PILLAR OF HER
CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR.
SHE SAYS ASKING ABLE-BODIED
RECIPIENTS OF SNAP BENEFITS OR
MAINECARE TO WORK IS NOT ABOUT
SHRINKING THE PROGRAMS OR
PUNISHING THOSE WHO NEED HELP.
>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT SAVING
MONEY OR BEING PUNITIVE, IT IS
ABOUT RECOGNIZING THAT WORK AND
EMPLOYMENT RESTORES HUMAN
DIGNITY.
I AM FAR MORE CONCERNED ABOUT
THE TENDENCY OF THESE PROGRAMS
TO CAST A WIDE NET AND TRAP
PEOPLE THAN I AM THAT SOMEONE IS
GOING TO FALL THROUGH THE
CRACKS.
>> Reporter: TIM KEEFE SAYS HE
FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS AFTER
GETTING INJURED.
HIS WRIST IS NOW STRONG ENOUGH
FOR HIM TO WORK, BUT HE'S
STRUGGLED TO FIND A JOB.
>> THEY SAY THERE'S A LOT OF
OPEN JOBS AND PEOPLE REALLY
LOOKING FOR WORK IN THIS DAY
AND AGE, BUT I'VE POUNDED THE
PAVEMENT FOR NINE MONTHS AND I
CAN'T GET HIRED.
I JUST-- I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH A
PROBLEM GETTING HIRED BEFORE IN
MY LIFE.
>> Reporter: USING MONEY FROM A
WORKMAN'S COMP SETTLEMENT, KEEFE
PURCHASED SOME LAND AND HE'S
HOPING TO BUILD A SMALL HOUSE
USING FOUND TIMBER.
AND FOR NOW, HE STILL GETS SNAP
BENEFITS.
BUT LAST MONTH, REPUBLICANS IN
CONGRESS PROPOSED RAISING THE
WORK REQUIREMENT AND JOB
TRAINING AGE FROM 49 TO 59 FOR
SNAP RECIPIENTS AS PART OF THE
FARM BILL.
MEANING KEEFE, AS A 50-YEAR-OLD,
COULD AGAIN LOSE ACCESS TO FOOD
AID.
>> THERE HAS TO BE SOME VEHICLE
FOR POOR PEOPLE TO EAT.
YOU CAN'T JUST STARVE THEM, YOU
CAN'T DO THAT.
>> Reporter: THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES IS EXPECTED TO
DEBATE AND VOTE ON THE 2018 FARM
BILL BEFORE THE END OF THE
MONTH.
