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The California Department of Social Services and University of California Data Archive and Technical Assistance randomly selected about 15,000 families receiving financial assistance in Alameda, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Joaquin counties as of October 1992. Of these, they randomly assigned two-thirds to Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) rule changes, and the remaining one-third continued with the preexisting welfare rules. Individuals in San Joaquin are excluded from all analyses because of difficulties obtaining data for those individuals. Because random assignment was conducted within counties, the omission of individuals in San Joaquin does not contribute to attrition.
The intervention was studied over the course of six years, but after four years, the two groups both received the same services; in 1997, all households were subject to the same requirements and provisions of California's TANF program.
No information is provided about study funding.
No information is available describing the full population of participants across counties included in the analyses. Among the Los Angeles sample, most sample members were women. The average female head of household in the Los Angeles sample was 33 years old, and the average age of the youngest child was roughly 4 years old. Los Angeles sample members had an average of two children. About two-thirds (65 percent) of these sample members were native English speakers, and about 30 percent were native Spanish speakers. Los Angeles sample members had received public assistance for an average of 45 months, or just less than 4 years.
California Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
The program was first initiated at the same time that the study was initiated.
In October 1992, welfare funding provided to California residents through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program became subject to new limits. First, the maximum aid payment was reduced by 8.3 percent between October 1, 1992, and September 1, 1993. Second, two-parent families in which one parent was unemployed could remain eligible for AFDC even if one parent worked more than 100 hours per week. Third, the Minimum Basic Standard of Adequate Care (the benchmark need level) increased in conjunction with the California cost of living. Finally, the program eliminated the time limit on earnings disregards (the amount of income not counted against monthly benefit payments).
Members of the comparison group continued to receive benefits according to the AFDC rules in place before October 1992.
None.
Duration of service receipt is not described.
Not known
The study took place across four counties in California: Almeda, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Joaquin. However, because of data limitations, San Joaquin is excluded from all analyses. The intervention was administered through local AFDC or TANF centers.
Total income (combining earnings and benefit receipt)