Selected Issues Relating to the AFDC and the JOBS Programs

Selected Issues Relating to the AFDC and the JOBS Programs PDF Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Ways and Means. Subcommittee on Human Resources
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 344

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Selected Issues Relating to the AFDC and the JOBS Programs

Selected Issues Relating to the AFDC and the JOBS Programs PDF Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Ways and Means. Subcommittee on Human Resources
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 344

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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant PDF Author: Gene Falk
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 90

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Book Description
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant provides federal grants to states for a wide range of benefits, services, and activities. It is best known for helping states pay for cash welfare for needy families with children, but it funds a wide array of additional activities. TANF was created in the 1996 welfare reform law (P.L. 104-193). TANF funding and program authority were extended through FY2010 by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA, P.L. 109-171). TANF provides a basic block grant of $16.5 billion to the 50 states and District of Columbia, and $0.1 billion to U.S. territories. Additionally, 17 states qualify for supplemental grants that total $319 million. TANF also requires states to contribute from their own funds at least $10.4 billion for benefits and services to needy families with children -- this is known as the maintenance-of-effort (MOE) requirement. States may use TANF and MOE funds in any manner "reasonably calculated" to achieve TANF's statutory purpose. This purpose is to increase state flexibility to achieve four goals: (1) provide assistance to needy families with children so that they can live in their own homes or the homes of relatives; (2) end dependence of needy parents on government benefits through work, job preparation, and marriage; (3) reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and (4) promote the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. Though TANF is a block grant, there are some strings attached to states' use of funds, particularly for families receiving "assistance" (essentially cash welfare). States must meet TANF work participation standards or be penalised by a reduction in their block grant. The law sets standards stipulating that at least 50% of all families and 90% of two-parent families must be participating, but these statutory standards are reduced for declines in the cash welfare caseload. (Some families are excluded from the participation rate calculation.) Activities creditable toward meeting these standards are focused on work or are intended to rapidly attach welfare recipients to the workforce; education and training is limited. Federal TANF funds may not be used for a family with an adult that has received assistance for 60 months. This is the five-year time limit on welfare receipt. However, up to 20% of the caseload may be extended beyond the five years for reason of "hardship", with hardship defined by the states. Additionally, states may use funds that they must spend to meet the TANF MOE to aid families beyond five years. TANF work participation rules and time limits do not apply to families receiving benefits and services not considered "assistance". Child care, transportation aid, state earned income tax credits for working families, activities to reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies, activities to promote marriage and two-parent families, and activities to help families that have experienced or are "at risk" of child abuse and neglect are examples of such "nonassistance".

Background Material and Data on Major Programs Within the Jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means

Background Material and Data on Major Programs Within the Jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Economic assistance, Domestic
Languages : en
Pages : 608

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Evaluating Welfare Reform in an Era of Transition

Evaluating Welfare Reform in an Era of Transition PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309171342
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 267

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Book Description
Reform of welfare is one of the nation's most contentious issues, with debate often driven more by politics than by facts and careful analysis. Evaluating Welfare Reform in an Era of Transition identifies the key policy questions for measuring whether our changing social welfare programs are working, reviews the available studies and research, and recommends the most effective ways to answer those questions. This book discusses the development of welfare policy, including the landmark 1996 federal law that devolved most of the responsibility for welfare policies and their implementation to the states. A thorough analysis of the available research leads to the identification of gaps in what is currently known about the effects of welfare reform. Evaluating Welfare Reform in an Era of Transition specifies what-and why-we need to know about the response of individual states to the federal overhaul of welfare and the effects of the many changes in the nation's welfare laws, policies, and practices. With a clear approach to a variety of issues, Evaluating Welfare Reform in an Era of Transition will be important to policy makers, welfare administrators, researchers, journalists, and advocates on all sides of the issue.

Legislative Record of the Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives Along with Brief Historical and Other Pertinent Information Concerning the Committee

Legislative Record of the Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives Along with Brief Historical and Other Pertinent Information Concerning the Committee PDF Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Ways and Means
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Finance, Public
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program

Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program PDF Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Ways and Means. Subcommittee on Human Resources
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 166

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Book Description
This document contains a record of the oral and written testimony of witnesses at a Chicago (Illinois) Congressional hearing on the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) Training Program. Witnesses at the hearing included officials from various Illinois programs funded by the JOBS program, government officials, and unemployed persons. They testified that the high state match of funds and services works against the successful implementation of the JOBS program and the requirements of the Family Support Act of 1988 are burdensome. Witnesses noted that in times of recession, the states simply do not have enough money to set up the matches for federal funds. Witnesses also stated that the JOBS program's requirement that participants engage in 20 hours per week of education is unrealistic because most literacy programs or postsecondary programs require less than 20 hours of classroom work but presume home study time. The 20-hour rule works against participants improving their skills. Proposed changes in the JOBS legislation to lessen the amount of state money required and to make program requirements more flexible are included in these proceedings. (KC)

Voting Record by Selected Issues

Voting Record by Selected Issues PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Government publications
Languages : en
Pages : 380

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102d Congress Legislative Record of the Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives

102d Congress Legislative Record of the Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives PDF Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Ways and Means
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Bills, Legislative
Languages : en
Pages : 66

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Legislative Calendar

Legislative Calendar PDF Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Ways and Means
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 1184

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Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications

Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications PDF Author: United States. Superintendent of Documents
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Government publications
Languages : en
Pages : 1192

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Book Description
February issue includes Appendix entitled Directory of United States Government periodicals and subscription publications; September issue includes List of depository libraries; June and December issues include semiannual index