Social Action Linking Together, or SALT, has over 1,200 members supporting SALT’s goal to help shape social policy that advances the common good and supports human services in Virginia.

We urge your support for:

SALT Priority #1:  End Supplantation of Federal TANF Dollars - Virginia uses Federal TANF funds to replace previous State spending for low-income families, contrary to the intent of TANF.  Virginia must maximize the resources available to serve low-income children and families, and ensure that Federal TANF funds augment, not supplant, existing State and local spending.

Click here to view "Supplantation Recommendations VA Fact Sheet-2015"

SALT Priority #2: Rescind the Federal Lifetime Ban on TANF - SALT supports ending the Federal lifetime ban on TANF welfare benefits for ex-offenders convicted of felony drug crimes. This ban imposes a life sentence (or lifetime penalty) after prison time has been served. It penalizes children of drug felons (not only the offender), and defeats re-entry efforts and family reintegration. SALT proposes using the TANF caseload decrease as funding justification for codifying the opt-out of punitive Federal "tough on crime" legislation from another era (1996).

Click here to view "State Opt Out of Federal TANF Ban for Former Drug Offenders Fact Sheet - 2015"

SALT Priority #3: Ban the Box - Formerly incarcerated individuals shouldn’t face a life sentence of no job prospects and no opportunities to better themselves just because they have served time in prison. “Ban the Box” laws will help former offenders to get back on their feet, contribute to their communities and keep one offense from becoming a life-long barrier to self-improvement.

Click here to view "Ban the Box Fact Sheet--2015"

SALT Priority #4: Make VA's EITC Refundable - We are advocating to make Virginia's Earned Income Credit (EIC) refundable to help working families keep working and to keep more of their hard-earned money and to help pay for other expenses like a car repair or a childcare bills.

Click here to view "Make VA’s EITC Refundable"

SALT Priority #5: Child Support Pass Through - Child support that is paid on behalf of poor children should benefit them, not the government. Therefore, to fix the problem, Virginia should allow up to $100 for one child and $200 for two or more children of the non-custodial parent’s child support to “Pass Through” to the TANF family for the children’s benefit. This is pro-child. (The General Assembly passed effective July 2017).

Click here to view "TANF Child Support Pass Through -- Factsheet #1
Click here to view "TANF Child Support Pass Through -- Factsheet #2