The summer of 1996 brought about profound and controversial changes in the way America handles its welfare programs. Much criticism had been directed toward the previous welfare system, based mainly on Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). This criticism centered on claims that the system produced welfare dependency rather than temporary assistance to help recipients move into a job and …
Signed into law on August 22, 1996, Public Law 104-193 gives states broad flexibility to design and operate their own welfare programs while at the same time holding them accountable to the proposed regulations. States were required to implement their block grant programs by July 1, 1997. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicted that though welfare spending would continue to grow about 50 p…
Under the welfare-reform law, states that had received approval for waivers prior to July 1, 1997, were given the option to continue those cash assistance programs under some or all of those waivers. States were allowed to retain provisions that were inconsistent with the new law until their waivers expired if they accepted the option of continuing cash assistance programs covered by the waivers.…
The 1997 Balanced Budget Reconciliation Act (PL 105-33) made a number of changes affecting state programs funded under TANF block grants, including partially restoring funding for some of the program cuts made in the 1996 welfare law. SSI benefits were restored to legal elderly or disabled immigrants who were receiving assistance as of August 22, 1996. These benefits were also restored to immigran…
Authorization for the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 was scheduled to end on September 30, 2003. A number of bills related to reauthorization were put forward and a number of issues were debated in Congress, including changes in work requirements, funding levels, the role of education and training, and income support for those leaving the welfare rolls. In…
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