Food stamp time limits were meant to encourage the able-bodied to work, but this study suggests that supports to help people move into employment were often in short supply. Furthermore, many of those subject to time limits were not able to work because of serious issues such as substance abuse,...

Shows that welfare reform increased employment and earnings during the first three and a half years, and that the employment increase occurred because of reform policies allowing people to work while receiving cash assistance. However, there is no evidence that reforms reduced participation in...

Assesses the effects of specific welfare reform policies, as well as other factors such as the economy, on changes in the food stamp caseload between 1994 and 1999. Suggests that economic growth explains nearly half of the caseload decline over this period. TANF work requirements, work...

A burgeoning literature suggests that marriage may have a wide range of benefits, including improvements in individuals' economic well-being and mental and physical health, as well as the well-being of their children. The authors have synthesized recent literature from rigorous research studies...

This report describes the status of over 1,000 Virginia families 18 months after their TANF cases closed because of a time limit. It finds that nearly all parents worked after leaving TANF, with average hours, hourly wages, and total earnings increasing over time. Families also decreased their...

Finds that most WtW grantees, except recently funded ones, are now delivering services, but restrictive eligibility rules still in effect in late 1999 continue to impede enrollment. Despite low enrollment, grantees have moved expeditiously to place WtW participants in work activities. To date,...