Screening Tool - Economic Stability Indicator

This tool requires training to fully understand how it works and the outputs it generates. If you will be a frequent user of the tool, you may want to consider becoming a Partner. Partners receive training on how to use the tool, assistance in analyzing results, and full access to all of the tool’s functionality.

Non Partners may use the tool to run a single-family scenario but will be limited in taking advantage of all the features offered without a username and password. For more information, please contact CDF-MN Economic Justice Outreach (click here for contactinformation).

Follow these instructions to illustrate the economic stability of the families who rely on a combination of wages, public program benefits, and tax credits.

1. Complete questionnaire to build household scenario.

Complete screenings as if you are an adult in the family you are assisting.
If wages are unknown estimate them to the best of your ability.
The tool will not accurately reflect eligibility and benefit amounts for seniors (those over the age of 65) and those with physical and developmental disabilities.

2. Enter expenses.

The basic needs expense chart that automatically appears reflects a “bare bones monthly basic needs budget” specific to the county selected and household size.
Edit the default basic needs expense and use a family’s actual monthly expenses by entering new monthly amounts in any of the budget item boxes.

3. Review Monthly Family Budget Chart.

This chart shows family budgeted expenses, public work support programs the family is eligible for, program benefit amounts, and reduced expenses for the family if enrolled in the programs they appear eligible for.
The tool also shows tax liability and tax credits the family may be eligible for
The bottom of the chart displays What’s Left Over (income minus expenses) without public programs and with program assistance. It also highlights the affect tax credits could have if received monthly as opposed to end of year.
This Monthly Family Budget Chart illustrates how public work support programs and tax credits can help fill the gap that often exists between expenses and wages and can improve the economic stability of families.

4. Adjust program enrollment.

The tool defaults showing the family enrolled in all programs for which they are eligible, you can turn programs off to reflect only the programs in which the family is enrolled
To reflect the reality families may not always be able to access a program (i.e., Waitlists, etc.), you can turn programs off by clicking the checked boxes next to the program name to remove the check mark.
Unchecking a program will recalculate the reduced expense amount to illustrate the family’s true bottom line.

5. Select and analyze the Line Chart.

The Line Chart found at the bottom of the page shows income level the family needs to achieve self-sufficiency without public programs, and the pathway there at various income levels and reduced expenses.
The Break-Even Line indicates when income equals expenses, and the family has $0 left over – anything below this line indicates a monthly deficit.
The dips highlight the approximate income levels at which a family will experience “cliff effects,” the points at which they lose eligibility for public work support programs while gaining tax liability.
The chart also shows the family’s bottom line with tax credits (the top graph line) if tax credits were distributed monthly.
For some families, experiencing a cliff effect means that they are actually worse off at higher income level than they were at lower income levels, which may be discouraging them from completing their pathway to self-sufficiency.

To help us determine how to proceed, please indicate how you are interested in using the tool.

Working with a family

Policy Analysis

Playing with the tool

Other

If you are willing to share information on your racial or ethnic identity, please select all categories below that best describe your family.

American Indian/Alaskan Native

Asian/Asian American

Black/African American

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

White/European American

Latino/Hispanic

Other

Unknown

Select a county

Describe your living situation

Single

Married, living with my spouse

Unmarried and living with the parent of one or more of my children

If you are married but you do not live with your spouse, select Single.
If you are living with the parent of your child but are not married, select Unmarried and living with the parent of one or more of my children.
If you are unmarried and living with a boyfriend or girlfriend but don’t have children in common, select Single.

Is anyone in the household pregnant?

No

Yes, I am

Yes, I am or my spouse is

Yes, my unmarried partner is

If you have a child under 21 who is pregnant and lives with you, select Yes.

How many babies are expected during this pregnancy?

Are there children ages 23 or under in the household for half the year or more?

No

Yes

Only select yes if there are child(ren) in the household half of the year or more who are your or your partners’ biological, adoptive or foster children.

Indicate the ages of the children:

Enter the ages of children you have in common with your partner. These children must live with you half the year or more.

Age of your 1st child:

Age of your 2nd child:

Age of your 3rd child:

Age of your 1st child:

Age of your 2nd child:

Age of your 3rd child:

Do either you or your partner have children from a previous relationship who live with you for half the year or more?

Yes, I do

Yes, my partner does

Enter the ages of children you have from a previous relationship. These children must live with you half the year or more.

Age of your 1st child:

Age of your 2nd child:

Age of your 3rd child:

Enter the ages of children your partner has from a previous relationship. These children must live with you half the year or more.

Age of your 1st child:

Age of your 2nd child:

Age of your 3rd child:

Enter the amount of money, before taxes and deductions, you make from work. (hourly, monthly or yearly)

When entering income amounts, do not use dollar signs, decimals, or commas.

$

This is earned income (gross). If self-employed, use net income. Include wages and tips. Do not include income for an unmarried parent of any of your children or your partner even if that person lives with you. Do not include income from your children who are in school.

Enter the total amount of money, before taxes and deductions, you receive from the sources of income listed below.

$

Unemployment, pensions, annuities, dividends or other taxable interest, alimony received, and/or rent or royalties.

$

Social Security, SSI, SSDI, RSDI, GA, worker’s compensation, disability payments, veteran’s benefits, tribal payments and/or retirement income.

$

Child support received.

Enter the amount of money your partner who lives with you makes from work, before taxes and deductions. (hourly, monthly or yearly)

When entering income amounts, do not use dollar signs, decimals, or commas.

Enter the amount of money your spouse makes from work, before taxes and deductions. (hourly, monthly or yearly)

When entering income amounts, do not use dollar signs, decimals, or commas.

$

This is earned income (gross). If self-employed, use net income. Include wages and tips. Do not include any of your unearned income. Do not include income from your children who are in school.

Enter the total amount of money, before taxes and deductions, your partner receives from the sources of income listed below. Enter the total amount of money, before taxes and deductions, your spouse receives from the sources of income listed below.

$

Unemployment, pensions, annuities, dividends or other taxable interest, alimony received, and/or rent or royalties.

$

Social Security, SSI, SSDI, RSDI, GA, worker’s compensation, disability payments, veteran’s benefits, tribal payments and/or retirement income.

$

Child support received.

Enter the number of other people in the household who have not already been counted. These people must share food and expenses with the family members already counted.

Enter the income (earned), before taxes, for all the other people included in the question above.

When entering income, do not use dollar signs, commas or decimals.

$

Enter the income (unearned), before taxes, for all the other people included in the question above. This includes SSI, SSDI, GA, pensions, unemployment, disability payments, etc.

$

Food Expenses

Food

$

This estimate includes a monthly grocery budget for the indicated household plus the amount for school lunch for any school age children. On the summary screen, which is the next page, the infant formula expense, if applicable, will be added to the total food expense.

Infant Formula

$

This amount is estimated based on the amount of formula typically needed for infant(s) based on their age and the cost of formula provided by WIC. If your infant is fully formula fed and you receive WIC, DO NOT edit this expense since the tool will accurately estimate the amount of formula you receive from WIC and the amount you need to purchase out of pocket.

Health Insurance Expenses

Health Care

$

This health care estimate includes premium estimate based on location and the number and age of household members.

Housing Expenses

Rent or mortgage expenses

$

The estimated expense includes the amount for rent in your county based on your household size and an estimated amount for electricity. Only include the amount you pay in rent or mortgage for the place you live.

Utilities

$

Utilities can include the amount paid monthly for electricity, gas/propane, water, trash collection, phone, internet, cell phone, cable or other utilities that are not included in rent or mortgage. If you are using the default housing expense estimated above, it already includes an amount for electricity.

Child Care Expenses

Child Care

$

This estimate only includes an estimated cost of care in your county for your children under age 5. If you have children who are in school for whom you pay for child care you should edit this expense to include your actual cost of care.

Transportation Expenses

Transportation

$

The estimated expense includes average car insurance, repairs and gas to work, school and religious activities by county. When editing this expense include your monthly costs for gas, insurance and repairs. If you have a car loan, enter the monthly payment under the debt expense.

Child Support Expenses

Child Support

$

Only include the amount you or your spouse/partner PAY in legally owed child support for children who do not live with you. Do not enter the amount you receive in child support.

Other Expenses

Monthly debt payments

$

Enter the total amount of all your monthly debt payments, including monthly payments for credit card, car loans, student loans, and other monthly loan or debt payments.

Other Necessities

$

This estimate includes items needed for a safe standard of living like toiletries, clothes, and household cleaning supplies. The estimate is based on a percentage of the families' food and housing cost estimates so it is adjusted for what a lower income family would pay for these items. When entering an individualized expense include money spent on the items listed above as well as any other items in the family's budget that have not yet been entered.

Diapers and Wipes

$

This estimate is for diapers and wipes for children up to 30 months old. This amount will be added to the Other Expenses line on the summary page, which is the next page.