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MASSACHUSETTS
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After Time Limits: A Study of Households Leaving Welfare between December 1998 and April 1999 |
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Date of Report: |
November 2000 (http://www.state.ma.us/dta/dtatoday/reform/CSR.pdf) |
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Methodology: |
Survey: 670 interviews - 460 cases closed after hitting the 24-month time limit and 210 cases closed for other reasons. (75% Response Rate) |
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Study Timeframe: |
Interviews conducted between October 1999 and March 2000, 6 - 16 months after exit (first cases hitting time limit) |
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Investigator (Contact): |
Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (Claire McIntire, Commissioner) |
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Study Objective: |
Compare individuals who left welfare due to time limits with those who left for other reasons. |
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Comparable State Findings: |
Former Recipients |
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Percent employed at time of interview |
71% |
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Mean hourly wage of those employed |
$8.46 |
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Percent receiving Food Stamps/Medicaid (for children) at time of interview |
38% / 85% |
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Percent who say life is "better" after welfare |
46% |
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Percent receiving cash assistance within 6 - 16 months of exit |
19% |
Employment & Income
- 71% of all leavers were employed at the time of interview, including 73% of time-limited cases and 71% of other cases were employed at the time of interview.
- Time-limit leavers' jobs are not as good as those of other leavers. They do not work as many hours (31 v. 34 per week). They receive lower wages (median $7.73 v. $8.88 per hour) and earnings (median $240 v. $301 per week). And their jobs are less likely to include benefits such as sick leave and health benefits.
- Unemployed time limit and non-time limit recipients who were not employed cited the key reasons as lack of experience (403% v. 45%), being depressed or overwhelmed (367% v. 38%), wanting to stay home with children (353% v. 32%) and needing more skills or education (42% of non-time limit closings).
Other Supports (at time of interview)
- 38% of all leavers received food stamps (including 52% of time limited families and 62% of all families where the adult was not employed).
- 52% of leavers received housing assistance, 27% received fuel assistance, 20% of the families received SSI, and 45% received the Earned Income Tax Credit. In households with absent fathers, 46% of leavers received child support. The average payment was $188 a month.
- 58% of families with children under 13 used some form of child care, most commonly child care centers/pre-school or relative care for children under 6 and relative care for children between ages 6 and 12. 45% of the families with some child care arrangements received a state or federal subsidy.
Family Well-Being
- Families who left welfare reported more problems obtaining food after leaving welfare (22% faced the highest level of food insecurity after leaving welfare compared to 14% while on welfare).
- 53% of other leavers and 34% of time limited leavers reported improved financial well-being after leaving welfare. 39% of time limited leavers and 24% of other leavers reported worsened financial well-being after leaving welfare.
- Over half of families reported that their expenses had increased (57%), slightly more than reported their income increased (53%). Only 6% reported a decrease in expenses compared to 31% who reported a decrease in income.
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