HELP FOR AMERICANS IN THE USA

WELFARE PROGRAMMES

We have already looked at TANF and how it aims to help some of the most need in the USA

Today we are going to revise another few examples of government programmes designed to help Americans in tines of need

‘OBAMACARE’

Exchanges

Exchanges are markets where small businesses and people can shop for insurance and compare prices and benefits.

The idea is that with a marketplace, where all products can be viewed together, insurance companies will be forced to lower their costs to gain business.

Right of Appeal

Insurers need to have an appeals process for when they turn down a claim

‘OBAMACARE’

Fast food chains Chain restaurants have to list calories on their menus.

Pre-existing Conditions

No more "pre-existing conditions". At all. People will be charged the same regardless of their medical history.

DREAM ACT - DEVELOPMENT, RELIEF, AND EDUCATION FOR ALIEN MINORS (DON’T COPY)

Illegal immigrants can attend High school, but the prospects for an undocumented high school graduate are uncertain. A law 1996, known as The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, may be said to have effectively blocked their access to higher education.

In the United States, students who are not normally resident in the state where they go to college pay a higher tuition fee, typically two or three times the in-state charge.

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act discourages colleges from granting in-state tuition fees to undocumented students, because this would mean they would be paying less than US citizens from other states.

This means that, regardless of the length of time an undocumented student has lived in their “home” state, since they are not legally resident, he or she must pay the higher non-state fee. The extra cost often makes a college education impossible for students in this position.

DREAM ACT

We are now going to have a debate on the DREAM ACT

Your teacher will spilt you into groups and each group will be told whether they have to argue for or against it

You will have some time to do some research to find out more about the arguments surrounding the debate

Your teacher will give you a hand out which will help you get started

DEBATE

You should all know by now how to use the debate cards (Group number, direct response and point of order)

Remember the cards stand for:

1) Point of order – You can’t hear someone or don’t understand a word/phrase they have used

2) Direct response – Can be used once in the debate to directly respond to a point raised

3) Group number – Use this to show you have a point to raise in the debate. You can’t enter the debate without it

As always, there will be a prize for the winning group

SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME (SNAP)

Otherwise known as the food stamps programme this is aimed at people who are struggling to feed themselves

Read the story about two Americans affected by cuts to the SNAP programme and answer the questions on the next slide

QUESTIONS

1. Describe, in detail, the cuts that have been made to the SNAP programme

2. How many people currently get help through SNAP?

3. How much did Acosta get a month and how is this being affected?

PAST PAPER QUESTION

Describe, in detail, how the government in a country you have studied have tried to reduce social and/or economic inequalities

(KU 6 marks)

Take some time now to write a plan for this answer