At times, the endless number of complex names, acronyms and concepts in the world of public policy and advocacy can feel overwhelming. It takes time and experience to become comfortable with these terms and abbreviations. For this reason, Work, Welfare and Families has developed a glossary of terms and acronyms that we repeatedly encounter in our field of work. In some cases, we have provided a link to additional information.

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  XYZ

A+ Illinois: An Illinois coalition that is working for comprehensive state funding reform in order to have better schools and a stronger economy. More Info

Able and Available: In order to continue receiving unemployment insurance, most workers must prove that they are still part of the labor force by showing that they are actively looking for work and thus, “able and available” to work at a job for which they are qualified.

Access: Short for “access to services,” which is one of Work, Welfare and Families’ main policy initiatives. We work with several partner organizations to make sure that low income families are able to access the benefits to which they are eligible from Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) local offices.

Base Period: When the unemployment insurance system determines an individual’s eligibility for benefits, the state looks at four quarters of past earnings-called the base period. The base period usually covers the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. If a worker is ineligible under the regular base period, some states have an alternative base period (ABP), which counts a worker’s most recent earnings. Without an ABP, up to six months of recent earnings are not included in the base period.

Benefit Year: The period when a given worker’s weekly rate and duration of benefits starts (beginning with the day the worker first applies for UI. A worker is only entitled to payments for the specified benefit year if he or she goes on UI and is quickly re-employed and laid off again.

Block Grant: Funds that are provided to general purpose governmental units (usually at the state and local level) and can be used for a broad range of programs and services, largely at the recipient’s discretion. Some examples are the Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) block grant and the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG).

Budget Resolution: A brief outline of spending and revenues agreed to by the House and Senate each year. The budget resolution directs the work of Congress in making more specific spending and taxation decisions later on.

Cash Grant: Financial supports for those who are unable to produce sufficient income to pay for necessary expenses. Cash grants include TANF checks and SSI disability checks. While disability checks are near permanent, TANF checks are intended to be temporary assistance in order to sustain a family that is working toward self-sufficiency.

Categorical Funding: Federal funds provided to states and localities that have narrowly defined purposes and targeted populations. The use of categorical funds is often contrasted against the use of block grant funding.

CATS: Chicago Area Transportation Study, the Chicago Region’s transportation planning authority. More Info

CBPP: Center of Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington D.C. based think tank that publishes research papers on policy issues affecting low income families. More Info

Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF): Federal funding for child care for low income families. States received $4.8 billion for the CCDF in 2005. This program was authorized under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, which is commonly referred to as “welfare reform.”

CHA: Chicago Housing Authority, owner and operator of public housing in Chicago. More Info

CJC: Chicago Jobs Council, a Chicago-based nonprofit that advocates for workforce development programs and issues related to welfare reform. More Info

CLASP: Center for Law and Social Policy, Washington D.C. based think tank that often publishes research papers on policy issues affecting low income families. More Info

CNT: Center for Neighborhood Technology, a Chicago-based nonprofit concerned with environment and transportation policy. More Info

CRN: Chicago Rehab Network, a coalition of housing organizations who create affordable housing opportunities. More Info

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG): A federal program that gives money to local direct-service providers who offer assistance to low income individuals, families or communities. Those funded under the program are known as Community Action Agencies. More Info

Child Tax Credit (CTC): The Child Tax Credit was created in 1997 to lower the tax liabilities of families with qualified children.

DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois’ economic development organization. The DCEO provides technical and financial assistance to businesses, local governments, workers and families and administers a wide array of services. More Info

Discouraged Workers: Classified as not in the labor force. A worker is counted as discouraged if they are available for work but did not look for work in the last four weeks. They are not counted as unemployed because they have not made specific efforts to find work.

Discretionary Spending: Funding that must be appropriated each year.

DPA: Department of Public Aid has changed names to the Department of Healthcare and Families Services (HFS). This is a state agency that administers the KidCare and FamilyCare health insurance programs, child support collections services, energy assistance (LIHEAP) among other services. More Info

Earned Income: As a family increases their income, they transition off of cash grant supports (i.e. decrease $1 for every $3 earned). Income supports should not cease until earned income covers necessary expenses.

ECFB: The Emergency Campaign for a Fair Budget, founded in 2002, is a group of Illinois nonprofits working to promote alternatives to closing the budget deficit that do not involve program cuts. Work, Welfare, and Families is a member of this coalition.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): A refundable tax credit that supplements the earnings of low- and moderate-income workers. The EITC provides families incentive to work up to x income by refunding income tax credit, increasing the family’s real income.

Entitlements: Benefits that are guaranteed to individuals who meet a certain set of defined qualifications.

Extended Benefits: A permanent program that pays up to 13 weeks of extended benefits to workers in states with a 5 percent insured unemployment rate (several states have adopted the more effective 6.5 percent total unemployment rate trigger). The cost of the EB program is equally shared by the federal UI system and each state’s UI system. Since this EB trigger is not very effective, Congress has passed emergency programs, most of them completely funded by the federal government, during the last two recessions. The 2002 program is called Temporary Extended Unemployed Compensation (TEUC).

Fair Market Rent (FMR): The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines this as $802 a month for a one-bedroom apartment in Chicago in Fiscal Year 2006. This figure should not be more than 30% of a household’s income and should include the cost of the shelter rent plus the cost of all utilities, except telephones.

FamilyCare: Illinois’ health insurance program for the parents of low income children. FamilyCare is administered by the state and utilizes funding from the federal State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). As of January 2006, FamilyCare will provide medical coverage for families earning up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $35,798 for a family of four). More Info

Financial Literacy: A necessary component to becoming financially self-sufficient. Examples include an understanding of savings, interest, investment, assets, liabilities, basic household economics and accounting, balancing a checkbook, opening a bank account, and establishing credit.

FLLIP: The Financial Links for Low Income People coalition carries out financial education programs for low income people across Illinois to help them increase their savings and other financial assets.

Food Stamps: The Foods Stamps program is an entitlement program (guaranteed benefits to individuals who meet a certain set of defined qualifications) that enables low income families to purchase food. Food stamps support low income families and the underemployed. They do not purchase all food needs for the entire month, but supplement the income. More Info

Federal Poverty Level (FPL): A standard that is used to determine economic need, set by the Department of Health and Human Services. Eligibility for most public benefit programs are tied to percentages of the federal poverty level. In 2005, the FPL for a family of four is $19,350. More Info

Gross Receipts Tax: A Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) is a broad-based, low rate (generally less than 1%) tax imposed on all income received by business without any deductions for costs of doing business, such as a deduction for wages. GRTs are not based on company’s profit or loss for a given tax year; rather, they are owed on all income, regardless of whether or not business profitable. Currently, seven states impose a GRT: Delaware, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas and Washington.

Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights: A large Chicago-based nonprofit that provides services to immigrant populations and advocates around policies affecting immigrant and low income communities. More Info

HFS: The Department of Healthcare and Families Services, formally the Department of Public Aid, is a state agency that administers the KidCare and FamilyCare health insurance programs, child support collections services, energy assistance (LIHEAP), among other services. More Info

HHS: The Department of Health and Human Services is a federal agency responsible for overseeing federal programs affecting low income families, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). More Info

HOPE VI: Program developed to revitalize housing, focusing on physical improvements, managerial improvements, and human services in an effort to aid residents. More Info

Housing Choice Vouchers: Administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and often referred to as “Section 8”, this program assists low income families, the elderly, and the disabled in affording decent, safe, and sanitary housing on the private market through rent subsidies. More Info

HUD: The Department of Housing and Urban Development is a federal agency responsible for federal public housing funds, including the allocation of Housing Choice (Section 8) Vouchers, which allows low income families to rent market-rate housing. More Info

ICAA: Illinois Community Action Association is a network of agencies in Illinois that are funded under the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and that strive to raise the health, education and economic standards of Illinois’ low income population. More Info

ICCT: The Interagency Coordinating Committee on Transportation, created by a bill Work, Welfare and Families authored, is a committee that works to help communities develop their own transportation projects and leverage Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) funding for the state. In 2004, Governor Blagojevich appointed Work, Welfare and Families to co-chair the committee along with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

Individual Development Account (IDA): Savings accounts in which low income families deposit money that is then matched (often in a ratio greater than one to one) by a nonprofit organization or financial institution. Often depositors must save towards a financial goal such as home ownership or education.

IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security is a state agency that administers unemployment insurance in the state, releases unemployment data for Illinois and administers the one stop career centers funded under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).

IDHS: The Illinois Department of Human Services is a state agency that administers programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Food Stamps and Medicaid. The department also provides services pertaining to substance abuse, mental health, and developmental disabilities services, among others. More Info

IDOT: The Illinois Department of Transportation is a state agency that has authority over roads and transit in the state. In addition to being a standing member on most Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), IDOT is a co-chair of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Transportation (ICCT), along with Work, Welfare and Families. More Info

Illinois Incentive for Access Program (IIA): A grant that provides assistance to first-year college students in Illinois who have exceptional financial need.

Illinois FIRST: State funding for infrastructure, roads, schools and transportation, implemented by Governor Ryan in 1999.

Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC): As part of the federal transportation legislation, JARC funds provide grants to transportation projects that serve areas with populations at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.

KidCare: Illinois’ health insurance program for low income children. KidCare is administered by the state and utilizes funding from the federal State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). KidCare provides medical coverage for families earning up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $38,700 for a family of four). More Info

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): A federally-funded initiative administered through the Department of Health and Human Services, designed to help low-income families pay for their energy bills and related costs. Funds are distributed statewide in Illinois by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which gives funds to community organizations that in turn provide money to individuals. The money comes in the form of one-time grants to help low-income people with utility payments, as well as emergency services to respond to cutoffs due to nonpayment.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC): A housing assistance program which creates affordable housing through a tax credit program. More Info

Mandatory Spending: Funding that is not determined on an annual basis, but is rather determined by previously established laws.

Medical Assistance No Grant (MANG): A program that helps adults who earn too much to qualify for TANF by making them eligible for medical coverage.

Monetary Award Program (MAP): Provides grant assistance to Illinois residents who are first-time undergraduate students with exceptional financial need.

Medicaid: A joint federal and state fund that provides low income families with necessary health care services.

MFS: Metropolitan Family Services, a large Chicago-based nonprofit that provides direct service to low income families as well as advocating on issues such as payday loan reform and child support collection.

MPO: Metropolitan Planning Organizations are nonprofits organizations around the nation that work to improve metropolitan transportation systems.

More Than A Paycheck (MTAP): A concept developed by Work, Welfare and Families that outlines the system of services and supports that low income working families need to make ends meet in today’s economy. MTAP is an effort to raise awareness, identify needed policy change and build the case that low income working families require more than earnings to successfully move out of poverty, thrive in the workforce, and establish a sound financial base.

The Ounce of Prevention Fund: Chicago-based nonprofit that administers Head Start and early childhood education programs, and advocates around issues affecting low income children and families. More Info

Pell Grants: Grants from the federal government that help low- and moderate-income individuals pay for a college education.

Plan for Transformation: The Chicago Housing Authority’s plan to tear down most high-rise housing projects and replace them with mixed-income developments. More Info

PRWORA: The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 is a welfare reform plan aimed at helping people on welfare move into the workforce. Unlike previous welfare plans, PRWORA seeks to reward states that move families from welfare to work by supporting childcare and increasing health care.

Reconciliation Bill: A reconciliation bill is a single piece of legislation that typically includes multiple provisions (generally developed by several committees) all of which affect the federal budget — whether on the mandatory spending side, the tax side, or both. A reconciliation bill is the only piece of legislation (other than the budget resolution itself) that cannot be filibustered on the Senate floor, so it can pass by a majority vote.

Regressive Taxation: While any change in tax code that is not progressive might be called “regressive”, this short definition is highly political. A more salient definition of regressive taxes” are those that place a heavier burden on low-income earners, by taking a higher portion of their income than they take from wealth, high-income earners. “Regressive taxes” of the second definition are characteristic of structural inequality.

State Children’s Health Insurance program (SCHIP): A program in which the federal government agrees to match every $35 in new state spending on uninsured children with $65 in funds. Illinois’ KidCare and FamilyCare programs are funded through SCHIP. More Info

Section 8: Common name for the Housing Choice Voucher Program which gives low income families rent vouchers that they can use to obtain housing on the private market. More Info

Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law: A Chicago-based nonprofit that carries out legal advocacy on various issues affecting low income families.

Stabilization: A facet of financial management that includes consumer credit counseling, debt management/consolidation, basic budget counseling (paying necessities vs. luxuries, living with one’s means, how to shop on a tight budget), and knowledge of scams.

Structural Deficit: When a state’s tax revenue scheme, including types of tax, rates and base (items subject to a particular tax) will not bring in enough money to continue funding current service levels, with changing economic and demographic conditions taken into consideration.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): The current federal welfare program. TANF provide cash assistance and work opportunities to low income families by providing states with federal funds to develop and implement their own welfare programs. TANF was created by the 1996 welfare reform and requires most heads of families to participate in some form of work activity in order to receive their benefits. More Info

Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21): Federal transportation legislation that provides funding for roads and public transportation. TEA-21contains the Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) program. More Info

Teen REACH: Teen Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring, and Hope is a program designed for children between the ages of 6 and 17 to participate in services and activities during non-school hours. Teen REACH was established by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). More Info

Transitional Job: A short-term, wage-paying employment opportunity located in primarily non-profits or government agencies for the express purpose of obtaining a work history and job skills. Transitional jobs programs also provide employment support such as child care, transportation assistance, and education and training. Transitional jobs programs are designed for those with multiple employment barriers who have been unable to find work in the regular labor market. This can include ex-offenders, homeless, refugees, long term welfare recipients, and youth.

Unemployment Insurance (UI): Funded by payroll taxes, UI provides benefits to workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Voices of Illinois Children (VIC): A Chicago-based nonprofit concerned with early childhood education, child care, and other issues affecting children in the state. More Info

Wage Replacement: An approach to UI programs that evaluates how well UI benefits replace a worker’s former wage.

Welfare Earnings Supplements: Supplements that make low-wage work financially beneficial, such as food stamps, child care, and child support.

Welfare reform: In 1996, Congress and the Clinton Administration made fundamental changes to Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), the nation’s safety net program of cash assistance to poor families. Under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996, AFDC was transformed into the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant. This change signaled a shift in the nation’s safety net program from an entitlement program (guaranteed benefits to individuals who meet a certain set of defined qualifications) into a block grant program (fixed funding to states).

Workforce Investment Act (WIA): The federal program that provides funding for job training and employment services. The act funds One Stop Career Centers, locations where individuals can receive services such as assistance with job searches, employment counseling and job training.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): A federal program that assists low and moderate income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who have a nutrition-related health problem. The program provides a combination of nutrition education, supplemental foods, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care. More Info

To suggest a term or offer a revision, please contact Valerie Chepp, Communication Director, at vchepp@ctbaonline.org.