Work to welfare?

Christian Century, July 13, 2004

WORK TO WELFARE? With the economy booming and welfare-to-work policies in place, the number of single mothers who were employed increased from 62 percent in 1995 to 73 percent in 2000. In the past three years that rate has fallen to 70 percent, without a comparable increase in the number of single mothers receiving assistance.

One study indicates that fewer than one out of every two families eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) actually receives it, compared to about 80 percent of eligible families who received aid in the mid-1990s (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, June 22).