Lecture 21 Targeted social welfare and other safety nets Myths of Welfare Once on welfare always on welfare o go off in 2 years o 2 3 go off within 3 years o Those who go off sooner are over age 25 with a high school diploma and a longer work history Welfare recipiants don t want to work o 80 on welfare have outside wages Children raised on welfare use welfare o 2 3 daughters of highly dependent welfare users do not go on welfare o 16 used sometimes o 20 higher use Most women on welfare are African American o Most are but white follow close behind Causes families to break up o Rise of singe parent households not due to welfare Women on welfare have kids for money o Each additional year on welfare odds of conceiving decrease o 42 have one child 30 have two children Most teen mothers turn to welfare o 5 of mothers on welfare are teenagers but will most likely utilize later Payments are too generous o Not enough money to truly raise a person out of poverty Aid to Dependent Children ADC Part of SSA Children with deceased incarcerated or deserted parents Aid to Families with Dependent Children AFDC 1961 1995 Aimed at single mothers and women of color Assumption of poor women as undeserving Assumption of absent fathers Focus on work but wasn t as successful as they hoped o Establishment of work incentives WIN 1967 o JOBS 1998 Reforming of welfare Provide assistance to needy families to care for children End dependency on government assistance promote marriage job preparation Prevent reduce out of wedlock pregnancies Encourage two parent families Transform system transition to work support End of welfare as we know it TANF Promoting job readiness and job training to give skills Prevent out of wedlock pregnancies PRWORA Personal responsibility and work opportunity reconciliation act 1996 States now receive chunk of money to divide between families instead of federal government 1 Entitlements and Block Grants No longer guarantee of aid o Work requirements must be met o Can t stay on past 5 years o Increase of state flexibility 2 Time limits Time limits on cash benefits 60 months or 5 years over entire life 3 Work Requirements 50 of recipients must participate in work activities If work activities are reduced TANF check reduced 20 of state recipients are exempt Each dollar earned in a job reduces cash benefits by a dollar o Working families hit limit as fast as non working families State variations Wisconsin o W2 Program o New Hope range of services o WEP Work Experience Program New York Minnesota o MN Family Investment Program o Keep Paying benefits after employment Delinking and Diversion AFDC receipt packaged with Food Stamps and Medicaid o Funds to pay for delinking TANF now linked to CHIP programs children s health care Family Cap Denying mothers and families who receive welfare further financial assistance after the birth of another child
View Full Document
Unlocking...