Status of TANF Leavers in DC

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

The Status of TANF Leavers in the District of Columbia: Final Report
Date of Report:	January 2001 (www.urban.org/dc/dc_tanf_leavers.html)
Methodology:	Administrative and survey data: analyzes case information for those who left TANF in the last quarter of 1997 and 1998. 277 surveys were conducted from a sample of 453 individuals who left TANF last quarter 1998. (Response Rate 61%)
Study Timeframe:	Fourth quarter 1997 to fourth quarter 1998. Interviews were conducted approximately one year after exit.
Investigator (Contact):	Urban Institute (Gregory Acs)
Study Objective:	To examine the experiences of those who have left welfare.

Comparable State Findings:	Former Recipients
Percent employed at time of interview (survey findings)	60%
Median hourly wage of those employed	$8.13
Percent receiving Food Stamps/Medicaid (children) at time of interview	41% / 60%
Percent who say life is "better" after welfare	N/A
Percent receiving cash assistance in first year since exit	24%

Employment & Income

According to administrative data, increased income was the cause of case closure for 13% of 1998 and 1997 leavers while survey findings show that 44% of leavers left welfare because they got a job.
1997 leavers had a median income of $3,416 during the 1^st quarter after exit and $3,934 during the 4^th quarter after exit (administrative data).
Survey respondents reported a median monthly income (from combined sources) of $800.
The most commonly reported barriers to employment for unemployed leavers were inability to find a job (25%), lack of child care (20%), health problems (17%) and lack of transportation (9%).
Although 13% of leavers are married or living with a partner, only 4% of unemployed leavers had a spouse or partner who was working.

Other Supports

While 54% of adult leavers are covered by Medicaid and 32% are covered by employer-provided health insurance, 22% of adults and 16% of children have no medical coverage of any type.
While only 5% of leavers reported receiving child care assistance from a welfare office after exit, assistance may be unnecessary as the majority of all leavers (52%) use school-based care or have a friend or relative provide care in their home (21%).
Since exit, 16% of leavers reported receiving child support, 31% reside in public housing or use subsidies, and 9% rely on fuel assistance.

Family Well-Being

Since leaving welfare, 29% of leavers reported problems paying utility bills, 27% reported problems paying rent, 8% said they could not afford medical care, 6% were forced to move due to an inability to pay for housing, and 3% reported homelessness.
At the time of survey, 13% of leavers reported a lack of food during the last month and 6% reported cutting meal size or frequently skipping meals . Interestingly, currently employed leavers reported a lack of food more often than currently jobless leavers (14% v. 11%).
Survey results indicate unstable personal living situations for leavers. For example, over the course of one year, 22% moved in with family/friends, 17% took in family/ friends, 7% were separated/divorced, 8% had children that moved out of their home, and 6% of leavers got married/partnered.