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Families with disabilities are those in which one or more family members may suffer from a physical disability or psychological disability. Research indicates that these families often require additional assistance. Reviews of studies, have found that estimates for the prevalence of mental health problems among welfare recipients ranged from 2 percent (1989 National Health Interview Survey) to over 50 percent (New Chance Demonstration Project). Mental health problems may affect a person's ability to gain and maintain employment. Moreover, health problems with children of welfare recipients may also impact a person's employment experiences.
Selected Summary Findings in Brief
Former Recipients with Impairments Less Likely to Be Employed and More Likely to Receive Federal Supports (GAO, December 2002):
- Recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) who had
impairments were found to be half as likely to exit TANF as recipients
without impairments, and recipients caring for children with impairments
were found to be less than half as likely to exit TANF as recipients not caring
for children with impairments, after controlling for demographic differences
such as age, race, and marital status.
- Although impairments affect exits,
other factors, including family support and personal motivation, as well as
local TANF policies, may also affect whether recipients exit TANF.
- After leaving TANF, people with impairments were one-third as likely as
people without impairments to be employed, according to a statistical model
that controlled for demographic differences, and they were more likely to
receive federal supports.
- Forty percent of leavers with impairments
reported receiving cash assistance from Supplemental Security Income
(SSI), a federal program designed to assist low-income individuals who are
aged, blind, or disabled.
- Leavers with impairments were also more likely to
receive non cash support in the form of Food Stamps and Medicaid than
their counterparts without impairments.
Outcomes for TANF Recipients with Impairments (GAO, July 2002):
- Controlling for certain demographic factors,
recipients with impairments are half as likely to exit
TANF as recipients without impairments.
- Controlling for certain factors, people with
impairments are less likely than people without
impairments to be employed after leaving TANF;
many receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Women's Employment Study (University of Michigan):
- Over time, the proportion of the total WES sample reporting barriers (including human capital and other work-related barriers, physical or mental health problems, domestic violence, transportation, and child care) has declined slightly on several measures. However, the prevalence of many of these barriers is much higher for sample members who were still receiving TANF in 1999 (176 women) compared to those who had left TANF for work (310 women) and somewhat higher than those who were off TANF and not working (108 women).
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