Administrative Data Matching-Arkansas

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Tracking Recipients after They Leave Welfare

Administrative Data Matching-Arkansas

Evaluation of Arkansas's Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) Program

Fourth Bi-Annual Report

Date: June 28, 1999

Investigator: Berkeley Planning Associates

Contact Person: Steve Walsh, (510) 456-7884

Method - Data matches between cases closed between July 1996 and September 1998 and unemployment insurance wage records. An analysis of welfare agency records was also made concerning reasons for case closure.

Findings in Brief
Did ex-recipient have UI reported earnings?

UI reported wages in the first quarter after they left welfare (over $100)		50%
Mean earnings of $2,034 over three months

			Percent with
			earnings at or above
	Mean Earnings	Poverty Level

1st quarter after leaving welfare	$2,034		13.7%
2nd quarter after leaving welfare	$2,182		16.5%
3rd quarter after leaving welfare	$2,294		19.6%
4th quarter after leaving welfare	$2,299		21.4%
5th quarter after leaving welfare	$2,592		26.0%

Reasons for leaving welfare (single parent families - from welfare records):

Comparing June 1996 (before TEA reforms), July 1997 (first month of TEA implementation) and June and November 1998.

	Jun-96	Jul-97	Jun-98	Nov-98
Income above eligibility limit	31.5%	19.7%	34.9%	37.3%
Failure to keep appointment	16.3%	29.3%	5.3%	78.0%
Non-compliance with work requirements	5.2%	14.6%	39.3%	29.1%
Client requested closure	9.3%	14.5%	3.0%	6.3%

Number of closures	1,212	1,954	879	931
Case closure rate	7.5%	13.7%	14.7%	13.4%

Families Returning to Welfare

Percent leaving and returning to welfare between						16.4%
July 1997 and December 1998

Enrollment in Medicaid after Leaving Welfare

	Adults	Children
Left welfare in 3rd quarter of 1997	42%	44%
Left welfare in 4th quarter of 1997	49%	52%
Left welfare in 1st quarter of 1998	52%	54%
Left welfare in 2nd quarter of 1998	55%	56%
Left welfare in 3rd quarter of 1998	56%	60%

For more information please contact Jack Tweedie at NCSL, 303-830-2200.