Welfare: What Now?

State Legislatures January 1997

Envisioning the New Welfare

State and federal reforms pose ambitious goals for the overhauled welfare system--a transformation where welfare provides only transitional support and help for recipients so that they can find work and become self-supporting. Provisions in the federal legislation provide targets for the states as they continue welfare reform. By FY 2002:

More than half of all adult recipients will be in a work activity at least 30 hours a week (state work participation rate requirement). Currently, fewer than 10 percent of all those on welfare meet this standard.
Everyone receiving benefits for more than 24 months will be working or have a good reason for not working (two year work activity requirement).
Few people will receive benefits for more than five years. Instead of 60 percent to 70 percent of a state's caseload consisting of long-term recipients (over five years), only 20 percent will still need cash payments after that time (five year time limit on cash assistance). The remainder will have developed the necessary skills and found jobs that pay enough to support their families or found other ways to end their dependency on welfare.

Welfare: What Now?