Welfare Reform on the Web (December 2004): Social Security - Overseas

ARE WELFARE SANCTIONS WORKING AS INTENDED? WELFARE RECEIPT, WORK ACTIVITY AND MATERIAL HARDSHIP AMONG TANF-RECIPIENT FAMILIES.

B.J. Lee, K.S. Slack and D.A. Lewis

Social Service Review, vol.78, 2004, p.370-403

Study used longitudinal survey and administrative data on 1998 welfare recipients in Illinois to assess whether different types of grant reductions were associated with work activity, welfare receipt and hardship. Imposed sanctions did not appear to promote formal work or reduce welfare dependency; in fact they were associated with less formal work and lower earnings. Sanction threats had no association with formal work or welfare behaviours. On the other hand, both imposed sanctions and threats to sanction were positively associated with informal work and job preparation activities. Greater knowledge of welfare rules was associated with more formal work, less welfare receipt and less hardship.

JOB PERFORMANCE AND RETENTION AMONG WELFARE RECIPIENTS

H.J. Holzer, M.A. Stoll and D. Wissoker

Social Service Review, vol.78, 2004, p.343-369

Article analyses job performance and retention rates among recently hired welfare recipients in several large metropolitan areas of the USA. It uses survey data collected between 1998 and 1999. Overall job performance and retention rates among working welfare recipients appeared to be as good or better those of typical employees in similar jobs. On the other hand, a significant minority of working welfare recipients experienced serious difficulties due to absenteeism and poor attitudes to work.