Unemployment recipients to lose other aid

Thursday, Aug. 29, 2002 | 9:07 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Beginning Oct. 1, about 1,600 families will lose all or part of their state welfare cash payments and Medicaid coverage.

Gov. Kenny Guinn announced Wednesday he has terminated his order that permitted those laid off their jobs after Sept. 11 to qualify for welfare by not counting their unemployment checks.

Guinn said he now wants to preserve the money in the public assistance fund that is being drained because of higher than expected numbers of people signing up for the benefits.

Guinn said that starting Sept. 1, those drawing unemployment benefits will have their checks counted as income if they apply for welfare.

State Welfare Administrator Nancy Ford said there are about 600 families drawing both unemployment and public assistance. Another 1,000 are getting Medicaid benefits.

Those getting only a small amount of unemployment may still qualify for welfare benefits, she said.

Ford said those currently drawing benefits will lose all or part of their public assistance starting Oct. 1.

Guinn said under his exemption plan a typical family of four received $430 from welfare while a family member also received unemployment.

In October last year, more than 15,000 people wee laid off because of a downturn in the economy after Sept. 11. It was then the governor changed the rule to allow them to draw both jobless and welfare benefits.

The statewide unemployment rate has remained steady during recent months after rising to 5.4 percent. This compares to the 4.9 percent before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Other benefits that might be affected are the Child Health Assurance Program, Nevada Checkup, low-income home-energy assistance and the childcare assistance program.