AARP RI Urges Senate to Expand Temporary Caregiving Insurance for Lower-Income Families
Monday, May 24, 2021
AARP Rhode Island is calling on the Rhode Island Senate to take action to allow minimum-wage and low-income workers to "benefit more practically" from Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) -- the state’s paid family leave program that supports family caregivers.
AARP RI says it supports Senate Bill 688, which would extend coverage to eight weeks.
"However, Rhode Islanders in lower-paying jobs simply cannot makes ends meet on the current benefit of 60% of their wages," says AARP. "AARP Rhode Island encourages a compromise with bill S436 that would increase the benefit rate from the current 60% of wages to 90% in 2022 for those earning minimum wage and to 75% in 2022 for those earning twice the minimum wage."
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“Rhode Island minimum wage, while increasing in the near future, is currently $11.50 an hour. This means Rhode Islanders who earn minimum wage and are forced to utilize TCI/TDI will have to support their family on $6.90 an hour. Lower income families simply can’t afford to have their wages cut by 40%, even for a few weeks," said AARP State Director Catherine Taylor and State President Phil Zarlengo in a letter to Senate leaders.
“RI Kids Count data shows that workers with the lowest incomes, less than $20,000 per year, are least likely to access and use paid leave in Rhode Island,” they added. “In 2017, these workers made up the largest share of those contributing to the TDI/TCI fund, yet they were the smallest share of workers to collect benefits and are the only group to experience this trend.
AARP said it believes any increase in weeks without an increased rate benefit for low-income families will "not go far enough to make a difference."
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