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Project Description

In December 1996, Massachusetts enacted a 2-year time limit for able-bodied recipients of welfare, and in December 1998, the first group of affected households reached their 24-month of assistance. At the same time of time limit closings, other households left welfare for other reasons. This study examines Massachusetts households leaving welfare under reform and compares the extent to which time limit closings and non-time limit closings were achieving the goals of welfare reform. Research questions addressed by this study include: 1. How do post welfare employment and earnings of time limit closings and non time limit closings compare? 2. To what extent did time limit closings achieve financial self-sufficiency after leaving welfare compared to the non time limit closings? 3. How do both types compare in general?

Project duration: Oct 1999 - Nov 2000

Sites studied include MA

Sample Characteristics and Sites Studied

670 randomly selected households (460: time limit closings; 210: non time limit closings) who left welfare between December 1998 and April 1999

Recent Findings in Brief

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