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| About GrandRally
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The national GrandRally provides grandfamilies and their supporters with an opportunity to raise awareness about the need for policies that support relative caregivers and the children in their care.
Past GrandRallies have created momentum for additional help for grandparents and other relatives raising children. As the GrandRally sponsors prepare for the GrandRally, share your concerns about caring for your grandchildren, nieces and nephews and others by emailing grandrally.yvonne2011@yahoo.com.
We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you on September 15th.
GrandRally 2011 Focus: Social Security This year's GrandRaly will focus on the important role Social Security plays in supporting grandfamilies. The official rally policy priorities provide additional resources on other federal policies that are key to helping grandparents and other relatives caring for children.
More than 6.5 million children in the United States receive part of their family income from Social Security through survivors, retirement, and disability benefits. Social Security pays more benefits to children than any other federal program. In the event of death or disability of a caregiver, it covers 98 percent of all children.
* 3.1 million children younger than 18 receive Social Security benefits as dependents of deceased, disabled or retired workers. * While not receiving benefits themselves, 3.4 million children younger than 18 live in households in which at least one relative receives Social Security benefits to meet their needs. * Among children in families who received Social Security, approximately 42 percent, or more than 2.7 million children, would have been considered poor based on family income other than Social Security. With the additional benefits, the poverty rate among these children is reduced to 22.5 percent, or less than 1.5 million. Resources: Social Security: What's at Stake for Children, Youth, and Grandfamilies (PDF) |
