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INDIANA
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The Indiana Welfare Reform Evaluation: Who Is On and Who Is Off? |
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Date of Report: |
September 1997 (http://www.abtassoc.com/reports/welfare-download/Whowho.pdf) |
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Methodology: |
Telephone and in-person interviews: 844 leavers were interviewed, 53% of the sample population. |
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Study Timeframe: |
Interviews were conducted 12 - 18 months after recipient first entered cash assistance. |
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Investigator (Contact): |
Abt Associates, Inc. (Bureau of Program Evaluation 317-233-0890) |
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Study Objective: |
Examine differences between current and former TANF recipients. |
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Comparable State Findings: |
Former Recipients |
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Percent employed at time of interview |
64% |
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Mean/Median hourly wage of those employed |
N/A |
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Percent receiving Food Stamps/Medicaid at time of interview |
38% / 53% |
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Percent who say life is "better" after welfare |
N/A |
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Percent receiving cash assistance in first year since exit |
N/A |
Employment & Income
- 62% of leavers were working over 35 hours per week.
- 39% of leavers were earning less than $6 per hour, while 41% were earning $6 - $7 per hour and 20% of leavers were earning more than $8 per hour.
- 50% of unemployed leavers were willing to take a job that paid $6 - $7 per hour and offered health insurance.
- 62% of leavers had three or more years of work experience compared to only 50% of current recipients.
- The top three self-reported barriers to employment were child care problems (41%), transportation problems (36%) and health or disability (19%).
Other Supports (at time of interview)
- Although leavers continued to receive other sources of public and community assistance, the percentage of recipients decreased significantly once they left cash assistance. For example, 53% of leavers used Medicaid compared to 97% of current recipients; 46% of leavers used school lunch programs compared to 61% of current recipients, 38% of leavers continued to receive Food Stamps compared to 95% of current recipients; and 25% of leavers received WIC compared to 42% of current recipients.
- In contrast to use of government programs, leavers continued to use assistance programs from community organizations at about the same rate as current cash assistance recipients. For example, 26% of leavers and 27% of current recipients received food from community organizations, 19% of leavers and 25% of current recipients received utilities support, 9% of leavers and current recipients received rental assistance, and 6% of leavers and current recipients received child care assistance.
Family Well-Being
- Fewer leavers than current recipients had one or more nights with no place to stay (5% v. 7%).
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