|
Changes in eligibility: Eligibility rules are made consistent to reduce the burden on both recipients and administration.
Family caps: TANF recipients who have children while receiving benefits will not be eligible for additional benefits.
Financial disincentives/sanctions: Work effort is promoted through sanctions for failure to comply with the social contract. Sanctions are cumulative so that recipients who repeatedly fail to comply are penalized in a sequentially more punitive manner.
Financial incentives: Increased work effort is encourages through increasing the earning disregard and increasing the dependent care and health insurance deductions. Asset limits are raised to $8,000 per family or $5,000 per individual and one vehicle per household is exempted to allow individuals to accrue savings and equity.
Program operations/implementation: Implementation of program across counties and sub-groups is examined. Recipients undergo a screening using the TEEM expert system, a computerized system designed to help case managers and recipients identify barriers they may have to employment. If necessary, referrals are made to counseling services, childcare services, drug or alcohol treatment, financial management services, or a variety of other services that individuals may need.
Program requirements: After assessment and/or referral, recipients are required to sign a Social Contract with specific goals and a timeline tracking their path to independence.
Social/Support services: Transitional support services are provided for individuals who leave the welfare system through employment.
Time limits: Recipients are limited to 5 years of lifetime benefit receipt.
|
