27882.02-Paycheck Plus: Employment Referral Services – Atlanta

Study Name

Paycheck Plus: Employment Referral Services – Atlanta

Study Sharepoint ID

27882.02

Evaluation name

Paycheck Plus Demonstration Evaluation

This study received a low study quality rating because the implementation of the randomized controlled trial was compromised and it does not adjust estimated impacts for potentially important differences between the intervention and comparison groups.

This study received a low study quality rating because the implementation of the randomized controlled trial was compromised and the study does not adjust estimated impacts for potentially important differences between the intervention and comparison groups.

Design

Randomized controlled trial

Services

Case management

Settings in which the intervention was studied

Urban only

Demographics

Subgroups

Subgroup data - Female

Subgroup data - Male

Subgroup data - White

Subgroup data - Black

Count age

Count Young Adults

Count Hard-to-employ

Count Disability

Count chronically ill

Count mentally ill

Count substance dependent

Count formerly incarcerated

Count Justice involved

Count limited work history

Count homeless

Count immigrants

Count refugees

Count veterans

Count female

Count Male

Count Any postsecondary education

Count With a high school diploma or GED

Count No high school diploma or GED

Count Married

Count Parents

Count Single Parents

Count Non-Custodial Parents

Count Employed

Count Self employed

Count Unemployed

Count Disconnected/discouraged workers

Count general low-income population

Count Very low income (as classified by the authors)

Count welfare population

Count long-term welfare recipients

Count Asian

Count Black or African American

Count Hispanic or Latino of any race

Count American Indian or Alaska Native

Count Pacific islander

Count White

Count White not Hispanic

Count More than one race

Count Unknown race

Count another race

Percent fomerly incarcerated

28.00

Percent female

40.00

Percent Male

60.00

Percent No high school diploma or GED

13.00

Percent With a high school diploma or GED

86.90

Percent Non-Custodial Parents

42.00

Percent Employed

46.00

Percent Black or African American

85.00

Percent Hispanic or Latino of any race

2.00

Percent White not Hispanic

12.00

Study Characteristics

Group formation formatted

This study is a randomized controlled trial. To qualify for study enrollment, individuals had to: (1) be unmarried, (2) be a U.S. citizen or resident, (3) be between ages 21 to 64, (4) not have dependent children, (5) have an annual income less than $30,000, and (6) not be a recipient of or applicant for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Study enrollment took place from fall 2015 to spring 2016. After enrolling, participants were randomly assigned with equal probability to either receive the Paycheck Plus tax credit/bonus or not. Of those receiving the Paycheck Plus tax credit/bonus, half were randomly assigned to receive referral services (the intervention group) and the other half to receive only the tax credit/bonus (the comparison group). The study presents findings comparing the intervention group that received referral services to the comparison group that received only the tax credit, for only the subsample of participants across both groups who reported earnings less than $10,000 in the year before random assignment.

Study timing formatted

April 2016 to March 2018.

Implementing organization formatted

The program was provided through United Way of Greater Atlanta and its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) locations.

Treatment condition formatted

The intervention consisted of adding referral services to a tax credit or "bonus" (worth up to $2,000) offered to workers with low incomes who did not have dependent children. Intervention participants received a call from a United Way counselor who referred them to the following services: employment assistance, basic skills training, GED preparation, health services, financial education and literacy, and support services (soup kitchens/food pantries, transitional housing, and general assistance). Participants were eligible to receive intervention services for three years.

Comparison condition formatted

Participants in the comparison condition were workers with low incomes who did not have dependent children and who received the tax credit or bonus, but did not receive referral services.

Mandatory services formatted

None

Setting details formatted

The study took place in Atlanta, Georgia.

Delivered by public or private entity?

Private

Secondary domains examined

Other benefits receipt

Citations/manuscripts

Earliest publication year

2015

Most recent publication year

2020

Manuscripts

27882

24980

SRG File Path

http://example.com

Check edits flag

Primary Service

Case management

Subgroup data - Hispanic