This policy brief gives tips for encouraging saving for retirement of low-income families. It outlines the benefits for state and federal governments to promote retirement saving. Improvements and changes to TANF, food stamps, SSI, and Medicaid programs are outlined.

This report from the Center for the Study of Social Policy reviews State policies that support families, children and low-wage workers while also contributing to states’ economic stability.

From the Housing Assistance Council, this article reviews strategies for improving conditions for low-income families in rural areas through Individual Development Account Programs. IDAs have been proven to help low-income families save money to then build assets. Specifically, this resource provides information from three case studies around the country on IDA programs serving the population in rural areas.

This brief from the Annie E. Casey Foundation reviewed a model to help low-income families in rural communities achieve long-term economic stability. The model combines strategies for increasing income, building assets, and accumulating wealth over time.

The Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire conducted this study and found that predatory mortgage lending is prevalent in rural areas. Additionally, authors conclude that rural minorities are more likely to take out higher-cost mortgage loans. Focusing on predatory lending for mortgages, this practice can have a significant effect on low-income working families by threatening their assets and savings.

Authored by Amy Brown. This series of reports, as part of the Aspen Institute's Economic Opportunities Program and funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, explore various lessons learned from innovative approaches to EITC campaigns. The series covers pilot projects, financial literacy in the workplace, connecting asset building to Workforce Development One-Stops, market research and asset development strategies, partnering with commercial tax preparation firms, and using technology.

This brief, from the Urban-Brookings Policy Center, reviews the impact of a minimum wage increase, and considers raising federal tax credits as a substitute. Authors rationalize the possibility of increasing tax credits such as the EITC, and conclude that this would prove to be costly and infeasible.

This article outlines marriage penalties and the effect these penalties can have on low-income families. Despite recent policy reforms, these penalties still remain for mostly low-to-moderate income families. Authors offer suggestions for reducing these marriage penalties such as setting a maximum marginal tax rate for lower-income individuals and providing wage subsidies to low-income workers.

This research brief discusses the importance of work supports for low-wage earners to maintain and advance in the job market. The National Assembly's Family Strengthening Policy Center outlines the work-plus approach to support workers in the workplace by engaging employers and expanding work supports to workers such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and child care subsidies.

The Rockefeller Institute of Government has released "The State Personal Income Tax Recovers," State Fiscal News Vol. 4, No. 4. After two years of decline, state personal income tax revenue grew by 6.4 percent in the January-March 2004 quarter. This growth is found in all components of the PIT, including withholding and estimated payments. Final payments with April returns also appear to be strong.