Welfare Reform
On August 22, 1996, President Clinton signed into law the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193, better known as the Welfare Reform Bill. This law changes how governmental financial assistance is administered including: changing federal funding to states from an open-ended entitlement to a series of capped block grant allocations; sets time limits on entitlements and cash assistance to welfare recipients; requires most welfare recipients to engage in job activities (this includes work experience, community service, job training, vocational education); changes the disability definitions for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for children who apply; mandates states to establish methods to enforce collection of unpaid parental child support; denies many legal immigrants from collecting SSI and food stamps; consolidates all child care programs into the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and changes foodstamp recertification requirements.
Reference Sources
Federal Information on Welfare Reform
- Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Enrolled Bill (Sent to President)) SOURCE: Library of Congress
- Technical Amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill HHS
- Department of Agriculture Welfare Reform Page -- Food Stamps - The new law limits receipt of food stamp benefits for able-bodied adults who are not working or participating in a work program or in workfare.
- Department of Health and Human Services -- Administration for Children and Families - Information on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant The new welfare reform law block grants AFDC, Emergency Assistance (EA), and JOBS into a single capped entitlement to states -- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) assists low-income families and those transitioning off welfare to obtain child care so they can work or attend training/education.
- Department of Health and Human Services -- Effects on Medicaid - The new law has substantial implications for Medicaid eligibility systems and responsibilities.
- Department of Housing and Urban Development - Jobs and job training services - includes links to jobs/jobs training links.
- Department of Labor Welfare to Work Web Site - The new law contains strong work requirements and performance bonuses to reward states for moving welfare recipients into jobs.
- Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 -New federal law combining federal funds for over 60 education and job training programs that go to state and local governments in the form of three block grants. The WIA requires creation of a State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB) that submit 5-year employment training plans to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, distribute WIA funds to local areas, and negotiate performance standards with local officials. Click here for the text of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Public Law 105-220.
- Catching
up on Welfare Reform (
282kb) - an overview of Washington State's welfare program, Workfirst , by
the Washington Research Council. - Washington State Department of Social & Health Services Workfirst Program - The program plan for changing welfare in Washington State.
- EHB 3901 - The Washington State implementation of the Federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, April 17, 1997 (501,000 bytes).
Links
- American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) - This site has a collection of current news about welfare reform innovations in the states with links to Web sites for state human service agencies. Also has the most comprehensive analysis of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, title by title.
- National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
- Council of State Governments
- National Governors' Association (NGA)
- The Urban Institute's "Assessing the New Federalism" is a multi-year research project that analyzes the devolution of responsibility for social programs from the federal government to the states, focusing primarily on health care, income security, job training, and social services. Researchers monitor program changes and fiscal developments, and assess their impact on children and families. The project's State Database is now available.
- Welfare Information Network - Serves as a clearinghouse for welfare reform information and includes an extensive list of welfare related Web sites. This is one of the better places to start to link to other sites with information on welfare reform.