Welfare Reform

TANF Work Requirements and the Family

Welfare Works: No Turning Back

Purpose To increase employment and education

for adults currently receiving welfare assistance.

Also, to ensure applicants are being notified of resources available and decrease the cycle of families receiving welfare assistance.

Introduction Welfare has been a topic of recent discussion

lately. Usually when a person is place on welfare (or government assistance) there is a stigma that they are lazy and not willing to go out and look for a job.

Much of the stigma has been caused by the pre-reform welfare system of lifetime recipients.

Many people are unaware of the guidelines that have been put forth by the United States government in terms of benefit disbursement.

Introduction In order to understand out

campaign, one must understand the literature of the welfare reform bills. The following slides will discuss: Personal Responsibility and Work

Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996(PRWORA)Basics Requirements

Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996(PRWORA)

Basics This act instituted TANF (Temporary

Assistance for Needy Families) Placed a time limit on receiving benefits:

Must obtain work within two (2) years of receiving benefits

Lifetime limit of five (5) years of receiving benefits

Welfare is no longer an entitlement or permanent program

Work Requirements for TANF Recipients must work as soon as job

ready/24months Failure to work can result in reduction/termination

of benefits Single Parent Family

30 hour weekly average work activity for Single parent

20 hour weekly average work activity with children under 6

Two Parent Family 35 hour weekly average work activity 55 hour weekly average work activity with

federal child care assistance (Office of Family Assistance, 2009)

Federal Work RequirementsAll Families(Single-parent)

30 hours per week, averaged monthly 20-hour minimum in core activities Up to 10 hours in non-core activities

Two-Parent 35 hours per week, averaged monthly (individually or combined) 30-hour minimum in core activitiesUp to 5 hours in non-core activities

Single Parent with child under six

20 hours per week averaged monthly A single custodial parent or caretaker relative

with a child under six meets the WPR by participating 20 “core” hours per week

Work Activities Unsubsidized/subsidized employment

Work experience

On-the-job training

Job search/readiness assistance

Community service

Providing childcare for individuals performing community service

(Office of Family Assistance, 2009)

Work Activities Vocational educational training

Job skills training related to work

Education directly related to employment

Secondary school attendance

(Office of Family Assistance, 2009)

Identified Problems

Proposed Solutions

Media Tools

Welfare Reform Blog

Government Representatives Contact Information