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.
These findings underscore the challenge states face in ensuring that
recipients with impairments and those caring for children with impairments
receive the supports they need to meet the work-focused goals and
requirements of TANF.
Employment and Receipt of SSI among Leavers with and without Impairments, July 1997
through July 1999
82%
Employed (no SSI)
18%
Not employed (no SSI)
Not employed (no SSI)
•
Employed
(no SSI)
6%
Both employed and
receiving SSI
a
Receiving SSI
(not employed)
•
Leavers with impairments
Leavers without impairments
27%
•
33%
34%
73%
Source: GAO's analysis of SIPP data on disability.
a
Employment and receipt of SSI are not necessarily concurrent.
WELFARE REFORM
Former TANF Recipients with
Impairments Less Likely to Be Employed
and More Likely to Receive Federal
Supports
To view the full report, including the scope
and methodology, click on the link above.
For more information, contact Cynthia M.
Fagnoni at (202) 512-7215 or
## email not listed ##.
Highlights of
Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee
on Human Resources, Committee on
Ways and Means, House of
Representatives and another
representative
December 2002
Debates surrounding the
reauthorization of welfare reform
legislation have involved some
discussion regarding outcomes for
TANF recipients with physical or
mental impairments. To inform this
discussion, GAO was asked to report
on (1) whether recipients with
impairments were as likely to exit
TANF as their counterparts without
impairments and (2) the sources of
income reported by leavers with and
without impairments. To obtain this
information, GAO analyzed self-
reported data for the most recent
years available from the Census
Bureau’s Survey of Income and
Program Participation (SIPP) –- a
national survey of households that
includes questions about TANF status
and functional impairments
.
Convention