Experiences of Virginia Time Limit Families After Case Closure: 18-Month Followup with Cases Closed in Early 1998, 1999, and 2000

Authored by Nancy Wemmerus, Carole Kuhns, and Renee Loeffler. This report describes the status of over 1,000 Virginia families 18 months after their TANF cases closed because of a time limit. It finds that nearly all parents worked after leaving TANF, with average hours, hourly wages, and total earnings increasing over time. Families also decreased their use of non-cash assistance--such as Food Stamps, Medicaid, and child care subsidies. As of November 2002, 15 percent of the families had returned to TANF.