Aside from being a departure from negative public stereotypes, the letter may draw your attention to the report, found at https://www.brookings.edu/research/a-dozen-facts-about-americas-struggling-lower-middle-class/. In summary, the report finds:
"Compared to families living in poverty, families in the struggling lower-middle class are more likely to be headed by a married couple, to have a second adult worker, and to be headed by an individual with some college education. Those in the struggling lower-middle class still face many of the same challenges as those in poverty, however, including food insecurity and a reliance on government programs for income support.
There are programs in place to assist the struggling lower middle class. In fact, nearly one-third of these families rely on at least one government transfer program for income support in any given year. For both the struggling lower-middle class and families living in poverty, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) is by far the most prevalent program. Low-income families benefit from an array of tax credits and transfer programs, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Medicaid. The phase-out of these programs at near-poverty levels of income leads to high marginal tax rates on low- to moderate-income families, however, lessening the return to work and making economic security more difficult for working families to achieve."
The report also notes that women who had access to food stamps were more likely to achieve a high school diploma and earn more money at work: the implication being that greater SNAP availability would reduce long-term SNAP dependency.
There are programs in place to assist the struggling lower middle class. In fact, nearly one-third of these families rely on at least one government transfer program for income support in any given year. For both the struggling lower-middle class and families living in poverty, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) is by far the most prevalent program. Low-income families benefit from an array of tax credits and transfer programs, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Medicaid. The phase-out of these programs at near-poverty levels of income leads to high marginal tax rates on low- to moderate-income families, however, lessening the return to work and making economic security more difficult for working families to achieve."
The report also notes that women who had access to food stamps were more likely to achieve a high school diploma and earn more money at work: the implication being that greater SNAP availability would reduce long-term SNAP dependency.
