Time limits and safety net programs
What can states do to serve more families through existing continuing support services programs?
- Launch public education campaigns.
Because benefits such as Food Stamps and Medicaid historically has been tied to receipt of cash assistance, many families do not believe they are eligible or choose not to participate due to the stigma frequently associated with the program. Public education can change these attitudes and beliefs. Promoting food stamps as a support for working families can increase eligibility awareness and help reduce negative attitudes toward participation.
- Form community partnerships to conduct outreach.
Outreach efforts have a greater chance of success if many sectors of the community--including government, community organizations, faith organizations and businesses--work to promote education on program eligibility and increase program participation.
- Target eligible immigrant populations.
Changes in the 1996 welfare reform law restricted eligibility for many public assistance programs--including food stamps--to immigrants. Although the immigrant parent may not be eligible in some cases, their U.S. citizen children are. States may find it useful to work with human services agencies or cultural organizations that have a large immigrant clientele to increase their awareness of program and eligibility guidelines. In addition, changes to the 2002 Farm Bill restored eligibility to many immigrants who were disqualified under the 1996 reforms. These individuals may need to be informed of their restored eligibility. The reauthorization of the Farm Bill with increased funding for food stamps is important because food stamp program benefits are 100 percent federally funded. Thus, benefit changes offer a chance for states to help low-income families without spending additional state money. Program simplifications also can represent administrative cost savings, provided implementation costs are not large.
For more information, see "Helping Working Families: Action Kit for Municipal Leaders", National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education and Families, www.nlc.org/iyef and "Food Stamp Reauthorization: a Guide to Program Changes for State Legislators", National Conference of State Legislatures, www.ncsl..org/statefed/humserv/fsguidenew.htm.
What are states doing to help families that hit their time limit and leave welfare but are still in need of services?
Time limit policies vary by state. Some states have implemented time limits as short as 18 months while others continue to fund families using state money (instead of federal money) to provide support past the federal 60-month time limit. To assist families that have reached or are at risk of reaching their time limit, yet continue to be in need of assistance, states have exempted children from time limits, implemented welfare extensions and exemptions and created safety net programs.
- States without time limits.
Michigan and Vermont have chosen not to impose lifetime limits on cash assistance. Once a recipient reaches the federal 60-month time limit, on-going cash assistance is funded by the state.
- Time limits do not apply to children.
Arizona, California, Indiana and Rhode Island terminate the adult portion of the cash assistance grant when the recipient has reached the state time limit but continue to provide for the children in these families.
- Time limit extensions and exemptions
. States can grant extensions to welfare recipients at risk of hitting their time limit to give them more time to improve their situation before having their benefits terminated. Other states have granted exemptions to parents if they are meeting the state work requirements and also suffering from extenuating circumstances. State are permitted to exempt 20 percent of their TANF caseload if those families meet certain state-specific criteria.
- Created safety net programs
. Safety net programs provide services to those that exit TANF due to time limits and continue to need additional services. States such as Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho and New York operate state safety net programs. Connecticut and Hawaii provide vouchers to help families care for their children. Vouchers may be used for items such as food, rent, utilities, school supplies, or clothing. Idaho and New York offer cash assistance to families that have reached their TANF time limit. Although Idaho does not require families to apply for extended cash assistance, it is operated as a separate program with additional eligibility requirements, not an extension of TANF cash assistance. New York requires families to enroll in this program and limits assistance to 24 months.
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