TANF Telephone Survey: Employment Status Since Case Closed March 1997-January 1998

PENNSYLVANIA - Study of Closed Cases

TANF Telephone Survey: Employment Status Since Case Closed March 1997 - January 1998
Date of Report:	March 1998 (web address unavailable)
Methodology:	Random sample of 435 closed cases. 72 cases were later dropped from study because family returned to public assistance in less than 7 days. 169 surveys were completed out of the remaining 363 cases for a response rate of 47%.
Study Timeframe:	Telephone interviews conducted in January and February 1998.
Investigator (Contact):	Bureau of Program Evaluation, Department of Public Welfare (Charles Kupsis, 717-787-7690)
Study Objective:	Gather information on the experiences of former recipients after cash assistance was ended.

Comparable State Findings:	Former Recipients
Percent employed at time of interview	53%
Percent earning median wage of $6.50 - $7.50 an hour	43%
Percent receiving Food Stamps/Medicaid at time of interview	N/A
Percent who say life is "better" after welfare	N/A
Percent receiving cash assistance in first year since exit	12%

Employment & Income

While the majority (53%) of former recipients were working at the time of survey, 24% had not been employed since leaving welfare.
Of those working, 62% worked over 30 hours per week.
Among those employed the most commonly cited barriers to employment were child care problems (41%), health problems (34%), problems finding a job (29%), and transportation (20%).
Among those not currently employed, the most commonly cited barriers to employment were child care problems (38%) and transportation (22%). Additionally, 27% reported having general problems making it to work.
Finally, among those who had not been employed since leaving TANF, the most commonly reported barriers were health problems (38%), child care (21%), lack of education or training (21%), and being laid off or fired (21%).

Other Supports (for those not currently working or never employed)

Fifty-one percent of those who had not worked since leaving welfare were receiving SSI.
Twenty-six percent of those who were not working at the time of survey reported receiving help from family or friends.
Twenty-two percent of those unemployed since leaving welfare had a husband who provided support.

Family Well-Being

Among those employed at the time of survey, 54% said they had more money than they did while receiving TANF. Seventy-nine percent of those not employed at the time of survey reported having more money than while receiving TANF.