Survey of Closed Cases-Wisconsin

Tracking Recipients after They Leave Welfare

Survey of Closed Cases-Wisconsin

Survey of Those Leaving AFDC or W-2 - January to March 1998 - Preliminary report

Date: January 13, 1999

Investigator: Department of Workforce Development

Contact Person: Jean Rogers, Director, Division of Economic Support (608) 266-2035

Method - Phone and in-person interviews with sample of W-2 families who had case closings from January to March 1998 and who had not returned to welfare. Random selection of 547 cases from universe of 3,564 closed cases. Interviews took place 5 to 8 months after case closed. Initial contacts were made by telephone for interview, but when respondent could not be contacted by telephone, a home interview was attempted. 375 interviews were completed, a response rate of 68.6% once ineligible cases were excluded.

Findings in Brief

	Employment status at time of interview
	Employed at time of interview	62.1%
	Not employed since leaving welfare	16.5%
	Worked more than 30 hours per week	80.9%
	Median hourly wage	$7.00

Reasons for leaving welfare

What do you say are the reasons that you no longer get welfare (multiple answers allowed)?

	Employment related	54%
	Don't want to be on welfare	34%
	Non-participation in program activities	16%
	Requirements - too much hassle	14%

Types of support received

	Medicaid	71%
	Food stamps	49%
	Child support	27%
	Child care subsidy	17%
	Gifts of money from family or friends	15%
	Help to pay bills from others in household	12%

Barriers to employment (if no job at time of interview)

	Trouble finding a job	33%
	Physical or mental illness (self)	27%
	Child care problems	21%
	Child needs - stay at home or pregnant	21%
	No transportation	12%

Household deprivation on welfare and after leaving

	During welfare	After welfare
Period without money to buy food	22.0%	32%
Behind in rent or housing payment	30.0%	37%
Behind in utility bill	49.0%	47%
Lack of money for child care	22.0%	33%
Could not pay for medical care	8.0%	11%
Shared household	35.0%	30%
Children lived elsewhere	4.0%	5%
What are your perceptions of your current situation?
Just barely making it from day-to-day - agree	68.3%
Life was better when getting welfare - agree	29.1%
Have more money now than when on welfare - agree	47.7%
Access to transportation
Had access to car, truck or motorcycle	54%
Own vehicle	44%

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

Tracking Recipients Welfare Reform Page Human Services Page