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A total of 44,852 cases were assigned to intervention or comparison groups for the Time Limits and RER interventions from June 1996 through September 2000. This review focuses on 1,684 cases that were randomly assigned to the RER pilot in Non-Choices sites between January 1997 and September 2000.
The program was studied from 1997 to 2002.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funded the study.
The Texas Department of Human Services
In the RER Non-Choices counties, which were part of the ACT demonstration, participants received more generous Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligibility requirements and adopted a Personal Responsibility Agreement (PRA). The changes to the TANF eligibility rules included the following: a disregard of children’s earnings and resources in calculating family benefits, increased resource limits for eligibility determination, and elimination of the work history requirement and 100-hour work rule for TANF-Unemployed Parent families. The PRA required that families comply with the following: child support and paternity establishment efforts, regularly scheduled Texas Health Steps screenings for children, immunization requirements, school attendance policies, and parenting skills training classes (if referred). Participants also received transitional benefits after reaching time limits, if employed after TANF.
The comparison condition could also receive transitional benefits if they were employed after TANF. This condition used the old Aid to Families with Dependent Children eligibility criteria, and there was no requirement for the PRA.
Participants were subject to time limits. The PRA required that families comply with the following: child support and paternity establishment efforts, regularly scheduled Texas Health Steps screenings for children, immunization requirements, school attendance policies, and parenting skills training classes (if referred).
Typical Time Limit experiment participants could be assigned to one of three time limits (12, 24 or 36 months) based on their educational attainment and work history. After reaching the state time limit, they could receive 12 months of transitional Medicaid and child care benefits. The length of service could be between two and four years.
The Texas Department of Human Services
The RER Non-Choices pilot took place in Texas at local Texas Department of Human Services pilot offices in Hondo, Huntsville, Lockhart, and Luling.