|
KANSAS
|
A Survey of Kansas Households Leaving the Temporary Assistance for Families (TAF) Program Final Report |
|
Date of Report: |
April 2000 (web address not available) |
|
Methodology: |
Administrative and survey data: 809 interviews were conducted at 3, 6, and 12-month intervals. (37% Response Rate) |
|
Study Timeframe: |
Information was collected from cases closed between Dec. 1997 and Nov. 1998. |
|
Investigator (Contact): |
KS Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services, Program Analysis Unit (Mike Sweeney, 785-296-5126) |
|
Study Objective: |
To examine the experiences of those who left welfare. |
|
Comparable State Findings (12 months after exit): |
Former Recipients |
|
Percent employed at time of interview |
58% |
|
Mean/Median hourly wage |
N/A |
|
Percent receiving Food Stamps/Medicaid at time of interview |
34% / 61% |
|
Percent who say life is "better" after welfare (financially) |
49% |
|
Percent receiving cash assistance in first year since exit |
35% |
Employment & Income
- 12 months after exit, 70% of employed respondents worked full-time (37.5 hours/week or more)
- 29% of working respondents received health benefits through their employer 12 months after exit.
- 47% of leavers whose cases were not reopened maintained financial independence by working while 24% relied on help from family/friends and 8% received help from a spouse/partner.
- Three months after exit 43% of leavers earned $5.01 - $6.00 per hour and only 12% earned $7.01 - $8.00 per hour whereas 12 months after exit only 29% of leavers were earning $5.01 - $6.00 per hour and 20% earned $7.01 - $8.00 per hour.
- The most common reasons for unemployment were health problems (self or spouse) (34%), transportation (14%) and a lack of interest in working (11%).
- 81% of respondents had a work history in the 24 months prior to case closure.
- 24% of respondents left TANF due to sanctions (work requirements), 16% left due to increased earnings and 7% left because there was no eligible child in the household.
Other Supports
- At the time of case closure, only 8% of respondents were using child care subsidies. Use of child care subsidies remained under 10% at all times.
- While Food Stamp and Medicaid receipt were very high at the time of case closure (89% and 100% respectively, use rates dropped significantly during the 3, 6 and 12 month follow-up periods.
- Only 35% of leavers whose cases had not reopened 12 months after exit reported using local helping agencies more after case closure than while receiving cash assistance.
- 18% of leavers returned to welfare within three months and 28% returned within six months of exit
Family Well-Being
- 39% of respondents said that overdue bills were their most common problem since leaving welfare.
- At the 3-month follow-up, 18% said they did not have enough food for themselves or their children, however, this number dropped to 8% by the 12-month follow-up.
- Three months after exit 17% of leavers reported doing much better financially after cash assistance compared to 25% of leavers 12 months after exit.
- 20% of closed cases that had not reopened reported being evicted from their homes within 12 months of case closure compared to only 6% three months after case closure.
|
