|
WASHINGTON
|
A Study of Washington State TANF Leavers and TANF Recipients Final Report |
|
Date of Report: |
March 2000 (http://www.wa.gov/WORKFIRST/about/Exit3Report.pdf) |
|
Methodology: |
Survey and Administrative Data (two concurrent reports): 1,235 surveys were conducted of leavers (708) and current recipients (527). (73% Response Rate) |
|
Study Timeframe: |
Surveys were conducted between April and June 1999, six to eight months after respondents left TANF. |
|
Investigator (Contact): |
Department of Social and Health Services, Office of Planning and Research (Jean Du, Principle Investigator Washington Department of Social and Health Services) |
|
Study Objective: |
Determine what happens to families when they leave TANF and compare them to families remaining on TANF. |
|
Comparable State Findings: |
Former Recipients |
|
Percent employed at time of interview |
59% |
|
Median hourly wage of those employed |
$7.00 |
|
Percent receiving Food Stamps/Medicaid (children) at time of interview |
50% / 77% |
|
Percent who say life is "better" after welfare |
60% |
|
Percent receiving cash assistance in first year since exit |
19% |
Employment & Income
- 86% of leavers reported having worked in the 12 months prior to the survey.
- Median monthly income for leavers who had not returned to TANF was $1,100. 47% of these leavers had an income above the Federal Poverty Line.
- 37% of leavers worked outside the standard workday (6 a.m. - 6 p.m.).
- 21% reported income from other workers in the family (a median monthly amount of $1,200).
- On average, leavers held their current job for 10 months. They spent 8.6 weeks job searching.
- The top three reasons for not working reported by leavers were: chose to stay at home to care for own children (21%), health reasons (17%), and laid off (12%).
- 34% of full time leavers qualified for paid sick leave, 38% for paid annual leave, 24% for retirement benefits and 43% for health care (although only about half enrolled in the health program).
- Among respondents on TANF, 77% cited affordable health care, 64% cited affordable child care, and 61% cited the ability to find any job as the resources most needed to attain self-sufficiency.
Other Supports (at time of interview)
- 63% of parents with children under 13 used someone else to take care of their children, 39% of whom received child care subsidies. Even though family incomes were similar (median monthly income about $1,150), leavers with child care subsidies spent an average of 4% of their total family income on child care compared to 14% for those without subsidies.
- More than 75% were very satisfied with the child care arrangements for their youngest child.
- 23% report receiving child support (median of $242 a month).
- 65% of leavers claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Family Well-Being
- 15% of the adults reported having gone without food for a whole day, but only 1% of their children. 12% reported having their gas or electricity cut off for not making payments and 7% were evicted.
- 85% of leavers thought it was unlikely that they would return to TANF in the next 6 months.
- 22% of leavers who returned to TANF cited having been laid off/fired from their job while 11% quit their jobs due to either health reasons, lack of transportation, or child care problems. 13% returned to TANF because of a marriage or partnership breakup.
- Leavers who live in urban and rural areas reported few significant differences in employment or family well-being.
|
