Annual ORR Reports to Congress - 1999
Shown below is a summary of the FY 1998 and FY 1999 outcomes by State. The caseload presented for each State and county consists of the number of refugees with whom a service provider had regular and direct involvement during the fiscal year in planned employment-related activities for the purpose of assisting the refugee to find or retain employment. For terminations, reductions, and retentions, each goal and outcome is also described as a percentage of entered employments. Some States opted to express terminations and reductions as a percentage of refugee cash assistance recipients who entered employment, rather than as a percentage of all entered employments. Health benefit availability is presented as a percentage of full-time entered employments.In Alabama, arriving
refugees seldom go on assistance. Its entered employments thus produced
no cash assistance terminations and no reductions.
Arizona |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
2,175 |
|
1,736 |
|
||
Entered Employments |
1,448 |
|
1,530 |
|
||
Terminations |
663 |
89% |
750 |
50% |
||
Reductions |
3
|
1
%
|
0
|
0%
|
||
Average Wage |
$6.27
|
|
$6.39
|
|
||
Retentions |
1,195
|
85
%
|
997
|
65% |
||
Health Benefits |
1,278
|
90
%
|
1,383
|
94%
|
In FY 1998 cash
assistance termination and reduction rates are based on entered employments
of refugees actually receiving assistance.
Arkansas | FY 1998 | FY 1999 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
12 |
|
12 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
12 |
|
12 |
|
|||
Terminations |
0 |
0% |
4 |
100% |
|||
Reductions |
0
|
0
%
|
0
|
0%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$6.38
|
|
$7.18
|
|
|||
Retentions |
19
|
63
%
|
8
|
100% |
|||
Health Benefits |
12
|
100
%
|
12
|
100%
|
In FY 1999 cash
assistance terminations were based on entered employments of refugees
actually receiving assistance.
Colorado | FY 1998 | FY 1999 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
890 |
|
648 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
515 |
|
400 |
|
|||
Terminations |
172 |
74 % |
156 |
88% |
|||
Reductions |
36
|
15
%
|
22
|
15%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$7.35
|
|
$7.60
|
|
|||
Retentions |
474
|
89 % |
402
|
93% |
|||
Health Benefits |
422
|
91 % |
328
|
89% |
Colorado expresses
cash assistance terminations and reductions as a percentage of cash
assistance recipients who entered employment, rather than all refugees
who entered employment.
Connecticut |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
1,051 |
|
996 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
459 |
|
658 |
|
|||
Terminations |
133 |
29 % |
134 |
86% |
|||
Reductions
|
99
|
22%
|
21
|
14%
|
|||
Average
Wage
|
$7.34
|
|
$7.69
|
|
|||
Retentions
|
334
|
73%
|
345
|
58%
|
|||
Health
Benefits
|
310
|
90%
|
302
|
52
%
|
Connecticut expresses
cash assistance terminations and reductions as a percentage of cash
assistance recipients who entered employment, rather than all refugees
who entered employment.
Delaware |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
19 |
|
18 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
13 |
|
16 |
|
|||
Terminations |
3 |
50% |
9 |
60% |
|||
Reductions |
1
|
17%
|
2
|
13%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$8.12
|
|
$8.57
|
|
|||
Retentions |
12
|
100%
|
14
|
93%
|
|||
Health Benefits |
5
|
5%
|
14
|
93
|
Delaware has
presented its data on reductions and terminations as a percentage
of cash assistance recipients who entered employment.
Dist. of Columbia |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
678 |
|
264 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
280 |
|
183 |
|
|||
Terminations |
255 |
91 % |
167 |
41% |
|||
Reductions |
25
|
9%
|
16
|
9%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$7.71
|
|
$8.07
|
|
|||
Retentions |
232
|
72% |
121
|
65% |
|||
Health Benefits |
182
|
71%
|
124
|
74% |
All full-time
placements result in termination of benefits.
Florida |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
23,090 |
|
18,738 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
10,929 |
|
7,526 |
|
|||
Terminations |
2,216 |
79% |
2,903 |
100% |
|||
Reductions |
0
|
0%
|
0
|
0%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$6.02
|
|
$5.74
|
||||
Retentions |
7,475
|
74%
|
6,219
|
80% |
|||
Health Benefits |
4,447
|
42%
|
2,213
|
31% |
Due to low assistance
payment levels, almost all refugees who enter employment terminate
assistance.
Georgia |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
1,519 |
|
1,994 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
999 |
|
1,356 |
|
|||
Terminations |
322 |
80% |
366 |
82% |
|||
Reductions |
3
|
1%
|
0
|
0%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$6.58
|
|
$7.50
|
|
|||
Retentions |
977
|
76% |
859
|
68%
|
|||
Health Benefits |
827 |
83%
|
936
|
70%
|
In FY 1999 Georgia
presented its data on terminations and reductions as a percentage
of cash assistance recipients who entered employment.
Hawaii |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
84 |
|
72 |
|
||
Entered Employments |
19 |
|
22 |
|
||
Terminations |
5 |
26 % |
7 |
32% |
||
Reductions |
14
|
74
%
|
4
|
18%
|
||
Average Wage |
$6.75
|
|
$5.59
|
|
||
Retentions |
15
|
93
%
|
30
|
86% |
||
Health Benefits |
7
|
47
%
|
18
|
100%
|
Idaho |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
355 |
|
437 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
199 |
|
258 |
|
|||
Terminations |
167 |
100% |
155 |
78% |
|||
Reductions |
0
|
0
%
|
0
|
0%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$6.16
|
|
$6.61
|
|
|||
Retentions |
198
|
92 % |
201
|
87% |
|||
Health Benefits |
122
|
73 % |
153
|
70% |
Idaho's benefit
amount is very low; therefore, most full-time placements result in
termination, rather than in a reduction of benefits.
Illinois |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
6,258 |
|
5,859 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
2,982 |
|
3,654 |
|
|||
Terminations |
802 |
58 % |
866 |
53% |
|||
Reductions |
588
|
42
%
|
676
|
41%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$7.76
|
|
$7.99
|
|
|||
Retentions |
1,731
|
58 % |
1,924
|
53% |
|||
Health Benefits |
1,072
|
43 % |
1,800
|
64% |
Illinois has
presented its data on reductions and terminations as a percentage
of cash assistance recipients who entered employment.
Indiana |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
386 |
|
665 |
|
||
Entered Employments |
344 |
|
317 |
|
||
Terminations |
116 |
43% |
64 |
45 % |
||
Reductions |
0
|
0%
|
4
|
3
%
|
||
Average Wage |
$7.87
|
|
|
|
||
Retentions |
139
|
34
%
|
$7.70
|
91 % |
||
Health Benefits |
135
|
42
%
|
300
|
91 % |
Indiana
has presented its data on reductions and terminations as a percentage
of cash assistance recipients who entered employment.
Iowa |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
1,428 |
|
1,286 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
1,014 |
|
754 |
|
|||
Terminations |
538 |
53 % |
386 |
51% |
|||
Reductions |
30
|
4
%
|
24
|
3%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$6.36
|
|
$7.57
|
|
|||
Retentions |
818
|
81 % |
603
|
80% |
|||
Health Benefits |
659
|
73 % |
473
|
72%
|
In Iowa, welfare
recipients may receive an unreduced check for up to four months after
employment begins. As a consequence, the State recorded few cash assistance
reductions.
Kansas |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
632 |
|
432 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
438 |
|
284 |
|
|||
Terminations |
145 |
84 % |
75 |
71 % |
|||
Reductions |
8
|
5%
|
19
|
18
%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$7.61
|
|
$7.90
|
|
|||
Retentions |
423
|
90%
|
284
|
89 % |
|||
Health Benefits |
320
|
84%
|
187
|
81 % |
Louisiana |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
316 |
|
368 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
274 |
|
274 |
|
|||
Terminations |
46 |
17 % |
63 |
23% |
|||
Reductions |
4
|
1
%
|
28
|
10%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$5.81
|
|
$5.85
|
|
|||
Retentions |
232
|
79 % |
203
|
72%
|
|||
Health Benefits |
80
|
31 % |
82
|
34%
|
The number of
terminations are low because many clients never access cash assistance,
but are placed directly into employment. Few reductions are reported
because Louisiana pays cash assistance at a level where any income
from employment makes the client wholly ineligible for cash assistance.
Maine |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
208 |
|
305 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
144 |
|
237 |
|
|||
Terminations |
58 |
40 % |
87 |
37% |
|||
Reductions |
25
|
17%
|
62
|
26%
|
|||
Average Wage |
95
|
|
$7.21
|
|
|||
Retentions |
$6.60
|
69 % |
196
|
83%
|
|||
Health Benefits |
61
|
59 % |
93
|
53%
|
Many jobs are
of a temporary and seasonal nature and therefore do not result in
cash assistance terminations.
Maryland
|
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
Caseload |
679 |
|
589 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
477 |
|
501 |
|
|||
Terminations |
124 |
78 % |
149 |
78% |
|||
Reductions |
0
|
0
%
|
0
|
0%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$7.09
|
|
$7.44
|
|
|||
Retentions |
397
|
95
%
|
437
|
76% |
|||
Health Benefits |
334
|
85
%
|
373
|
86% |
The Cash assistance
termination rate is based on entered employments of refugees actually
receiving assistance. The State's cash assistance information system
is not yet able to identify refugee reductions in cash assistance
due to earnings.
Massachusetts |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
1,876 |
|
1,775 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
1,256 |
|
1,083 |
|
|||
Terminations |
550 |
44% |
520 |
48% |
|||
Reductions |
123
|
10%
|
145
|
13%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$7.95
|
|
$8.75
|
|
|||
Retentions |
796
|
63 |
776
|
72 |
|||
Health Benefits |
734
|
73%
|
741
|
87%
|
Michigan |
FY 1998 |
FY 1999 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
2,319 |
|
2,794 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
1,620 |
|
1,828 |
|
|||
Terminations |
466 |
66 % |
471 |
69% |
|||
Reductions |
139
|
20%
|
146
|
21%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$6.93
|
|
$7.44
|
|
|||
Retentions |
1,170
|
72
%
|
1,265
|
76%
|
|||
Health Benefits |
1,199
|
85 % |
1,445
|
88% |
Cash assistance
termination and reduction rates are based on entered employments of
refugees actually receiving assistance.
Minnesota |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
1,783 |
|
2,611 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
1,136 |
|
1,423 |
|
|||
Terminations |
406 |
36 % |
373 |
26% |
|||
Reductions |
183
|
16
%
|
309
|
22%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$7.84
|
|
$8.07
|
|
|||
Retentions |
1,036
|
85
%
|
1,088
|
78% |
|||
Health Benefits |
782
|
86
%
|
1,073
|
91%
|
Mississippi | FY 1998 | FY 1999 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
463 |
|
416 |
|
||
Entered Employments |
229 |
|
278 |
|
||
Terminations |
0 |
0 % |
17 |
100% |
||
Reductions |
0
|
0
%
|
0
|
0%
|
||
Average Wage |
$6.19
|
|
$8.10
|
|
||
Retentions |
206
|
86 % |
222
|
70%
|
||
Health Benefits |
99
|
46
%
|
138
|
51%
|
In FY 1999 the
cash assistance termination rate is based on entered employments of
refugees actually receiving assistance.
Missouri |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
2,338 |
|
2,246 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
1,489 |
|
1,413 |
|
|||
Terminations |
460 |
92 % |
458 |
96% |
|||
Reductions |
21
|
4
%
|
17
|
4%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$7.10
|
|
$7.14
|
|
|||
Retentions |
1,359
|
81
%
|
857
|
78%
|
|||
Health Benefits |
1,148
|
82
%
|
1,136
|
83%
|
Due to Missouri's
low payment standards, minimum wage employment generally results in
a termination of benefits, rather than a reduction in assistance.
Montana | FY 1998 | FY 1999 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
280 |
|
292 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
93 |
|
73 |
|
|||
Terminations |
11 |
46 % |
33 |
51% |
|||
Reductions |
9
|
38
%
|
22
|
34%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$6.38
|
|
6.51
|
|
|||
Retentions |
54
|
57
%
|
38
|
62%
|
|||
Health Benefits |
12
|
20
%
|
9
|
12%
|
Montana's reductions
and terminations are presented as a percentage of cash assistance
recipients who entered employment.
Nebraska |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
261 |
|
190 |
|
|||
Entered Employments |
261 |
|
190 |
|
|||
Terminations |
261 |
100 % |
117 |
95% |
|||
Reductions |
0
|
0
%
|
6
|
5%
|
|||
Average Wage |
$7.11
|
|
$7.15
|
|
|||
Retentions |
271
|
94
%
|
207
|
86%
|
|||
Health Benefits |
223
|
85
%
|
150
|
79%
|
Placement at
entry-level wages results in termination of benefits due to Nebraska's
low benefit rate.
New Hampshire |
FY
1998
|
FY
1999
|
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Caseload |
199 |
|
445 |
|
||||
Entered Employments |
197 |
|
334 |
|
||||
Terminations |
197 |
100 % |
251 |
100% |
||||
Reductions |
0
|
0
%
|
0
|
0%
|
||||
Average Wage |
$6.95
|
|
$7.54
|
|
||||
Retentions |
198
|
95
%
|
273
|
98%
|
||||
Health Benefits |
118
|
80
%
|
194
|
59%
|
No reductions in assistance due to earnings were recorded because the New Hampshire formula will terminate any full-time employee except in the case of very large families.