Welfare Reform: States' Early Experiences with Benefit Termination: Program Components, Policies, and Activities

Program Components, Policies, and Activities Evaluated

Financial disincentives/Sanctions

  • Strengthened JOBS sanctions

Program requirements

  • Work requirement
  • Community or alternative work
  • School attendance
  • Living arrangements for unwed pregnant or parenting minors

Time limits

  • Time Limits - misc.

Administration/Implementation

  • Administration/Implementation - misc.
Variation in program components across sites? Yes
Notes on program components Financial disincentives/sanctions: Cases were terminated for various reasons, including failure to enroll in JOBS (Jobs Opportunities and Basic Skills Training) program, failure to meet work requirements, failure to comply with child support enforcement, failure to comply with teen school attendance requirements, and failure to comply with teen parent living arrangement requirements. Program operations: States’ experiences with implementation of benefit termination provisions is studied.

Program requirements: Recipients are required to engage in work. Minors are required to attend school, and pregnant or parenting minors are required to live with a parent or guardian.

Time limits: Cases were terminated if they reached program time limits.