Learn English – Meaning of “for your record”

"Poor" can mean "having little money", but it can also mean "lacking in quality, inferior". In this case, she is referring to definition #2: She is not qualified for the job of giving news from home, because she is an "outsider". It has nothing to do with how much money she has.

If you say, "Bob is a poor singer", that means he does not sing well, not that he is a singer who has no money. Similarly, "He gave a poor excuse for showing up late": his excuse was not a good one. Etc.

"Refusal to participate or stopping your participation will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled."

If you have the right to some benefits and this right does not arise from your participation in the research program, you will not lose these benefits in case you refuse to participate or stop your participation in this program.

Say, you have the right to receive some prescription drugs free of charge. Then you learn about this new research program. Your right to receive these drugs is not linked to this program. You decide to participate in this new program, but then suddenly you change your mind and discontinue your participation. This decision will not affect your right to recieve the free drugs.

_{(caveat: I'm not a native speaker of English)}