Bill Overview
Title: A bill to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to exclude certain payments to aged, blind, or disabled Alaska Natives or descendants of Alaska Natives from being used to determine eligibility or certain programs, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill excludes certain settlement trust payments to an Alaska Native or descendant of an Alaska Native who is aged, blind, or disabled for purposes of determining the individual's eligibility for need-based federal programs (e.g., the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).
Sponsors: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Target Audience
Population: Aged, blind, or disabled Alaska Natives or descendants of Alaska Natives
Estimated Size: 5000
- The bill is specific to Alaska Natives or descendants of Alaska Natives who are aged, blind, or disabled.
- Census data indicates that there are approximately 15,000 Alaska Natives or descendants residing in Alaska.
- Of these, about 12% are considered aged, blind, or disabled based on general statistics, leading to an estimate of 1,800 impacted individuals.
- Nationally, there are approximately 100,000 Alaska Natives or their descendants due to diaspora.
- A similar 12% estimate for being aged, blind, or disabled suggests approximately 12,000 might be impacted globally.
Reasoning
- The policy is designed to address the needs of a very specific group: Alaska Natives or their descendants who are aged, blind, or disabled.
- Since this is a specific and small demographic estimated to be around 5,000 in the U.S., the interviews will predominantly feature various individuals within this group.
- The diversity within this demographic in terms of impact from settlement trust payments, access to federal assistance, and personal circumstances will also be considered.
- A small percentage of the interviewed population will include people who may not be directly impacted by the policy, as they either do not qualify as aged, blind, or disabled, or they do not receive settlement trust payments.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (Anchorage, Alaska)
Age: 70 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The cost of living has been rising, and any financial help is needed.
- Excluding these payments from affecting my benefits would be helpful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Part-time craftsman (Fairbanks, Alaska)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I manage to get by with Medicaid covering my main needs.
- The policy might make it easier not to worry about losing benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Unemployed (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's hard to make ends meet, and any small increase in income makes me fear losing SNAP.
- This policy seems like a step in the right direction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Retired Fisherman (Juneau, Alaska)
Age: 75 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The trust payments are unpredictable, and I don’t want to jeopardize my assistance payments.
- This policy should allow me to feel more secure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Homemaker (Bethel, Alaska)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't want temporary trust payments to reduce my regular benefits from the government.
- Hopefully, the policy will secure what I already have.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Health Care Aide (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My family depends on these benefits, and any positive change can improve our future.
- Implementation of this policy would provide security for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Retired (Barrow, Alaska)
Age: 67 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The standard way benefits are calculated just doesn’t work for us.
- Keeping trust income separate from means-tested programs would be beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Retired Nurse (Portland, Oregon)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My medical expenses are very high, and any additional non-taxed support is essential.
- The policy could help stabilize my benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Unemployed (Nome, Alaska)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Exempting trust payments from my income checks could make Medicare and other benefits more secure.
- I think it would be a positive change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Retired (Sitka, Alaska)
Age: 80 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any help not affecting Medicaid means more stability for me long-term. I've seen too many people lose benefits over small payments.
- I give my full support to this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 2: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 3: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 5: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 10: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 100: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Key Considerations
- The ability to efficiently track and exclude these payments in program eligibility assessments.
- Potential changes in participation rates for federal need-based programs among the target population.
- Possible administrative challenges in implementation and program adjustments.