Employment & Self-Sufficiency

By: Fredrik Andersson, Julia Lane, Erika McEntarfer  

This report analyzes the experiences of welfare "cyclers," a group that has received relatively little attention in previous research on welfare dynamics. For this study, "cycling" is defined as receipt of welfare benefits during three or more discrete spells during a four-year "observation" period.

National welfare reform legislation in 1996 created the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, which imposed time limits on cash assistance receipt and broadened and strengthened mandates for clients to work or engage in work-related activities.

In recent years, policymakers and program administrators have increasingly focused on the role of noncustodial parents (NCPs) in the lives of low-income families.

Contents Making the Decision to Operate Tribal TANF Developing a Sound TANF Plan Ensuring Smooth Program Implementation and Operations Lessons Learned and Implications  

Contents Key Questions and Findings Policy Relevance Future Research Endnote

This study describes policies and practices in Connecticut, Minnesota, and Texas designed to coordinate the child support enforcement program, Medicaid, and SCHIP in order to secure and sustain appropriate health care coverage for child support-eligible children.

Child Support and TANF Interaction: Literature Review Prepared for: Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation Prepared by: The Lewin Group Mary Farrel, Asaph Glosser, and Karen Gardiner under subcontract to Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation April 11, 2003

This report summarizes state policy choices with regard to TANF sanctions for failure to comply with work requirements. In addition, it reviews the existing literature on sanctioning rates, characteristics and circumstances of sanctioned clients, and the impacts of TANF sanctions.