Getting On, Staying On, and Getting Off Welfare: The Complexity of State-by-State Policy Choices

With the ten year anniversary of welfare reform and the Reauthorization of TANF in February 2006, this article outlines States' current regulations prior to implementing the changes under Reauthorization. Under the new regulations, most States will have to greatly increase the work participation among their caseloads to avoid financial penalties. Authors review the current plans of state TANF policies for the ways a family can get on welfare, stay on, and leave assistance.