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OHIO - Study of Closed Cases
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A Report Examining Closed Ohio Works First Cases in Twelve Sites |
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Date of Report: |
June 2001 (http://www.state.oh.us/odjfs/owf/closedcases/OWFClosedCasesStudy.pdf) |
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Methodology: |
Administrative data and survey: 1,025 interviews conducted (Response Rate 68%) |
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Study Timeframe: |
Interviews were conducted between November 1999 and July 2000 of cases closed for at least one month between October 1997 and March 1999. |
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Investigator (Contact): |
The Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services and the Center for Human Resource Research at The Ohio State University |
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Study Objective: |
Explore what happens to Ohio Works First participants after they leave the program. |
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Comparable State Findings: |
Former Recipients |
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Percent employed 12 months after exit |
61% |
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Mean hourly wage of those employed 12 months after exit |
$7.91 |
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Percent receiving Food Stamps/Medicaid (children) at time of interview |
N/A / 66% |
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Percent who say life is "better" after welfare |
N/A |
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Percent receiving cash assistance during study period |
57% |
Employment & Income
- Employment increased for all leavers from 56% at time of initial case closure to 61% 12 months after exit. 72% of individuals that never returned to cash assistance were employed 12 months after exit
- Non-returners averaged $8.45/hour one year after exit compared to $7.31 for returners.
- Most leavers got a job by contacting an employer directly (36%), contacting friends or relatives (31%) or sending out resumes and completing applications (27%). Less than 5% of leavers got a job through the local welfare office or the help of a case manager.
- Monthly earnings grew slowly over time, yet averaged below poverty for a family of three.
- More returners had earnings below the poverty level (65%) than non-returners (44%).
- 62% of those still off welfare at the time of the interview reported having more money at the time of the survey then when they were on welfare.
- 34% of leavers attended job training. Those that never returned to welfare commonly participated in on-the-job training or apprentice programs (31%) and government training programs (17%).
- More leavers who never returned to welfare had jobs with paid leave (45% v. 28%) and sick days (33% v. 17%) compared to leavers who returned to cash assistance at some time after initial exit.
Other Supports (at time of interview)
- 32% of those with an established child support agreement never received payments.
- 26% of leavers had difficulty finding child care. The most common reason was cost.
- 45% of adult leavers continued to use Medicaid while 36% did not have health insurance.
- More leavers that never returned to welfare had their own car to get to work (55% v. 38%) while those that did return to welfare more commonly relied on public transportation (32% v. 18%).
Family Well-Being
- 82% of leavers were off cash assistance 2.5 years after exit. 41% of this population stayed off welfare continuously.
- 43% of leavers got behind in their rent, 13% were evicted and 8% used a homeless shelter.
- 14% of leavers went without electricity or heat at some time and 47% had their phone disconnected.
- 51% of leavers reported being unable to buy food. More than half of these received food or money from relatives/friends to help.
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