Texas Benefits

Increased Demand at Pleasant Grove Food Pantry Amid Federal Government Shutdown Residents of North Texas are facing heightened food insecurity as a result of recent disruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Pleasant Grove Food Pantry reported that the number of families seeking assistance has surged since the federal government shut down last … Read more

Texas Ends Extended Unemployment Benefits Due to Lower Jobless Rate The Texas Workforce Commission announced that the state will discontinue extended unemployment benefits effective the week ending September 11, following a decline in the unemployment rate to 6.2%. This shift means that Texans who have been relying on the additional 13 weeks of benefits during … Read more

Texas Launches New Electronic Benefits Transfer Cards for WIC More than 420,500 Texans have begun utilizing the new Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards as of July, reflecting a significant advancement in how families access important nutrition benefits. This transition is part of a comprehensive $64 … Read more

$1.77 million in payments has not been identified or recovered According to a recent audit by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) paid managed-care organizations a staggering $5,521,704 in Medicaid capitation payments after beneficiaries had passed away. This significant oversight raises red … Read more

Dallas Launches New 311 App for Easy Reporting of Code Violations The City of Dallas has introduced a new 311 app for both iPhone and Android users, allowing residents to report various code violations with just a snapshot. This move aims to enhance community engagement and improve neighborhood conditions across the city. Key Features of … Read more

Texas Medicaid Managed Care Reforms: What You Need to Know In response to significant public concerns about Medicaid managed care in Texas, legislative reforms passed in 2019 represent crucial steps forward for benefit recipients, particularly for children, pregnant women, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. These reforms address many shortcomings in the existing system by implementing … Read more

Texas Receives Over $9.1 Million for Unemployment Insurance Equity The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded more than $9.1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to the Texas Workforce Commission. This grant represents the largest equity grant allocated to a single state in this initiative, part of a broader effort to enhance fairness and … Read more

Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Community Health Centers in Texas Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Texas provide essential health services to uninsured and under-insured populations, yet their operations are significantly hindered by the state’s lack of Medicaid expansion. As a consequence, nearly 800,000 Texans currently find themselves without adequate healthcare options, according to the … Read more

Texas Responds to Medicaid HCBS Workforce Challenges Recent data reveals a significant workforce crisis in Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS) that is impacting service availability for millions of Texans. All responding states, including Texas, reported ongoing shortages of HCBS workers, primarily affecting direct support professionals, personal care attendants, nursing staff, and home health aides. … Read more

Sweeping Changes to SNAP Force Difficult Decisions for Texas Sweeping changes are coming to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under the budget reconciliation package (H.R. 1, also known as OBBBA), recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump. Significant implications for Texas benefit recipients are on the horizon, as the state … Read more