The profile reports for the Buckingham, Cumberland and Prince Edward Department of Social Services for 2018 was recently released. The profiles, compiled by the Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS) provides the more current rates of poverty in the area, the percentages of the population who are enrolled in benefits programs, where funding for these programs come from, and how they are distributed in The Herald’s coverage area.

To access the full reports for each county, visit https://www. dss.virginia.gov/geninfo/reports/agency_wide/ldss_profile.cgi, and click on the link that reads, “2018 SFY (rev.).”

Once the document downloads, hover over the header “Locality name,” to look at the reports for each county.

BUCKINGHAM

The total population in 2017, according to the county’s profile report, comes to 17,065.

all people in poverty for the county in 2017 was estimated to total 18 percent, or 2,600 in total. The percentage of children who live in poverty was estimated at 23 percent, or 679 total, according to the report.

The unemployment rate in 2017 was 5.4 percent, or 346 people in total, according to the report.

According to the profile, 3,428 clients received SNAP benefits in FY 2018, 192 received TANF and 4,174 received Medicaid.

Buckingham Department of Social Services Director Stephanie Coleman, in a previous Herald report, spoke about Medicaid expansion in the state. Sign-ups for the expansion began in November 2018.

“This program is designed to provide access to quality, low cost health insurance,” Coleman said.

Changes to Medicaid for Virginia include allowing childless adults to qualify if their annual income is at or falls below $16,754. A family of three would be eligible for Medicaid if their annual income is at or falls below $28,677. A person with a disability is eligible if their annual income is at or falls below $16,754.

Energy assistance by household in Buckingham in 2018, according to the report, totaled 212. No data was available per component, or who received fuel, cooling or crisis assistance specifically.

There are 16 total children in Buckingham in foster care, and 12 receiving adoption assistance, according to the report.

There are 281 children with Child Protective Services referrals. There are 52 people who were subjects of Adult Protective Services reports.

According to the report, 95.5 percent of the funds was distributed to benefits, 4.4 percent was distributed to the DSS administration and 0.1 percent was distributed for services purchased for clients.

The report cites that 43.4 percent of funding for Buckingham DSS came from the state, 54.2 percent came from federal funds and 2.1 percent came from the locality.

The total amount spent on social services in the county in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2018 was $34,702,792. According to the report, $835,116 were the funds provided by the county.

The county DSS had 14 direct staff members, seven indirect staff members and three unfilled positions.

The Buckingham DSS can be reached at (434) 969-4246.

CUMBERLAND

The total population for Cumberland County, according to its report, was 9,811 in 2017.

Approximately 15 percent of all people in the county, 1,498 altogether, are estimated to live in poverty. Approximately 24 percent of children, 453 total under the age of 18, are estimated to live in poverty.

The unemployment rate in 2017 was 196 people in total, or 4.2 percent, according to the report.

According to the profile in SFY 2018, 2,405 clients received SNAP benefits, 157 received TANF and 3,032 received Medicaid.

Jessica Ownby, director of the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, said she anticipates a larger volume of residents to apply for Medicaid due to the recent expansion.

Ownby said people can apply online or over the phone.

Those interested can visit coverva.org or call (855) 242-8282.

Even if people don’t think they qualify, they should at least try, Ownby said.

“I think it’s important to try to see if you’re eligible based on your income,” Ownby said.

“A lot of people, I would hear throughout the community, ‘I make too much money,’ well that may not be the case now,” Ownby said about the program. “It’s really important for people to go ahead and apply.”

“Unfortunately there is a cutoff, and some people still may get denied, but it doesn’t hurt to try again,” Ownby said.

Ownby spoke about the crisis energy assistance program offered at Cumberland DSS, which can help people for crisis situations related to heating. This can include assistance with circumstances such as a furnace that broke down, being out of kerosene, or any type of need.

The profile cites that 119 clients received energy assistance in 2018. No data was available per component, or who received fuel, cooling or crisis assistance specifically.

The report cites that there are 14 total children in Cumberland in foster care, and nine receiving adoption assistance.

There are 132 children with Child Protective Services referrals. There are 37 people who were subjects of adult protective services reports.

According to the report, 95.1 percent of the funds was distributed to benefits, 4.5 distributed to the Cumberland DSS administration and 0.4 for services purchased for clients.

The report cites that 43.2 percent of funding for DSS came from the state, 54.1 came from federal funds and 2.3 came from the locality.

The total amount spent on social services in the county in SFY 2018 comes to $24,783,188. Approximately $666,366 were the funds provided by the county.

The county DSS had 11 direct staff members, five indirect staff members and four unfilled direct and indirect positions.

The Cumberland DSS can be reached at (804) 492-4915.

PRINCE EDWARD

The total population in 2017 in Prince Edward was reported to be 22,703.

According to the report, 23 percent of all people, 4,392 altogether, were estimated to live in poverty. Approximately 27 percent of children, 1,000 under the age of 18, were estimated to live in poverty.

The unemployment rate in 2017 was 514 people in total, or 5.0 percent.

According to the profile in SFY 2018, 4,166 clients received SNAP benefits, 334 received TANF and 5,252 received Medicaid.

Energy assistance by household totaled 239. No data was available per component, or who received fuel, cooling or crisis assistance specifically.

There are four total children in Prince Edward in foster care as of Sept. 30, 2018, 14 children exited to adoption and 49 receiving adoption assistance.

There are 237 children in Child Protective Services referrals, and 83 people who were subjects of adult protective services reports.

According to the report, 94.6 percent of the funds was distributed to benefits, 5.3 distributed to the Prince Edward DSS administration and 0.1 for services purchased for clients.

Approximately 43.4 percent of funding for DSS came from the state, 54.3 came from federal funds and 2.0 came from the locality.

The total amount spent on social services in the county came to $43,849,833. Approximately $977,033 were the funds provided by the county.

“We really get the best bang for our buck,” Roma Morris, director of the Prince Edward DSS said. “The state and federal government is putting in most of the money, and that’s a really good deal for the county.”

Morris said the funding goes to important services that benefit peoples’ health and nutrition.

The county DSS had 31 direct staff members, six indirect staff members and seven unfilled positions.

The Prince Edward DSS can be reached at (434) 392-3113.