IDAs and Public Assistance Asset Limits: What States Can Do to Remove Penalties for Saving

This policy brief, the second in a series on Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) and state policy, highlights some ways in which states can make it easier for IDA holders (as well as other low-income households) to save toward their long-term goals without jeopardizing their eligibility for programs that can help them meet day-to-day needs. This brief is based on the 2002 Federal IDA Briefing Book How IDAs Affect Eligibility for Federal Programs, written by CFED and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Building on the original report, this brief includes the best and most up-to-date recommendations for action at the state level to minimize the impact of asset limits.

Project: State Assets Policy Project