Lifetime welfare receipt often occurs in more than one episode. Indicators that measure the duration of receipt over a lifetime further reflect the depth of dependence.
Figure IND 6. Percentage of AFDC Recipients with Long-Term Receipt, 1982 – 1991
Source: Table IND 6.
Between 1982 and 1991, almost half of all recipients received AFDC in only one or two years (47 percent) and only about one-fifth of all recipients received AFDC for 9 to 10 years (11 percent). Table IND 6 shows that this was also true between 1972 and 1981 (49 percent and 11 percent respectively).
As shown in Table IND 6, compared to non-black recipients, a smaller percentage of black recipients received AFDC for only 1 to 2 years while a larger percentage received AFDC for 9 to 10 years in both ten-year time periods.
As further shown in Table IND 6, a smaller percentage of child recipients experienced shortterm receipt and a larger percentage experienced longer-term receipt in both time periods relative to the percentages for all recipients.
Table IND 6. Percentage of AFDC Recipients with Long-Term Receipt
All Recipients 1982 - 1991 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Cumulative Years | All Recipients | Black | Non-Black |
1 - 2 Years | 47 | 37 | 53 |
3 - 5 Years | 28 | 27 | 28 |
6 - 8 Years | 15 | 19 | 12 |
9 - 10 Years | 11 | 17 | 6 |
Children 0 - 5 in 1982: 1982-1991 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Cumulative Years | All Child Recipients | Black Children | Non-Black Children |
1 - 2 Years | 34 | 28 | 39 |
3 - 5 Years | 29 | 28 | 30 |
6 - 8 Years | 17 | 16 | 19 |
9 - 10 Years | 20 | 29 | 13 |
All Recipients 1972 - 1981 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Cumulative Years | All Recipients | Black | Non-Black |
1 - 2 Years | 49 | 32 | 59 |
3 - 5 Years | 28 | 34 | 25 |
6 - 8 Years | 13 | 19 | 9 |
9 - 10 Years | 11 | 15 | 8 |
Children 0 - 5 in 1972: 1972-1981 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Cumulative Years | All Child Recipients | Black Children | Non-Black Children |
Note: Recipients are defined as individuals receiving at least $1 of AFDC or Food Stamps in the past year (1982 or 1972). Child recipients are defined by age in the first year. Source: Unpublished data from the PSID, 1972 - 1991. |
|||
1 - 2 Years | 37 | 24 | 46 |
3 - 5 Years | 29 | 31 | 27 |
6 - 8 Years | 15 | 23 | 10 |
9 - 10 Years | 19 | 23 | 17 |
View full report

"Introduction" (pdf, 47.84Kb)
Note: Documents in PDF format require the Adobe Acrobat Reader®. If you experience problems with PDF documents, please download the latest version of the Reader®
View full report

"Indicators of Dependence" (pdf, 152.45Kb)
Note: Documents in PDF format require the Adobe Acrobat Reader®. If you experience problems with PDF documents, please download the latest version of the Reader®
View full report

"Predictors and Risk Factors Associated with Welfare Receipt (First Half)" (pdf, 158.1Kb)
Note: Documents in PDF format require the Adobe Acrobat Reader®. If you experience problems with PDF documents, please download the latest version of the Reader®
View full report

"Predictors and Risk Factors Associated with Welfare Receipt (Second Half)" (pdf, 150.06Kb)
Note: Documents in PDF format require the Adobe Acrobat Reader®. If you experience problems with PDF documents, please download the latest version of the Reader®
View full report

"Appendices (First Half)" (pdf, 182.84Kb)
Note: Documents in PDF format require the Adobe Acrobat Reader®. If you experience problems with PDF documents, please download the latest version of the Reader®
View full report

"Appendices (Second Half)" (pdf, 289.7Kb)
Note: Documents in PDF format require the Adobe Acrobat Reader®. If you experience problems with PDF documents, please download the latest version of the Reader®