Indicators of Welfare Dependence

Annual Report to Congress

March 2001

Prepared by Staff of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

For on-line versions of this report (and previous annual reports)
see the Office of Human Services Policy's web page on the Indicators Reports:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/indicators-rtc/index.shtml

Obtaining a Printed Copy of Report

Contents

Executive Summary

Acknowledgements

Chapter I:  Introduction and Overview

• Organization of Report
• Measuring Welfare Dependence
• Measuring Deprivation
• Data Sources

Chapter II:  Indicators of Dependence

1. Degree of Dependence
2. Receipt of Means-Tested Assistance and Labor Force Attachment
3. Rates of Receipt of Means-Tested Assistance
4. Rates of Participation in Means-Tested Assistance Programs
5. Multiple Program Receipt
6. Dependence Transitions
7. Dependence Spell Duration
8. Program Spell Duration
9. Long-Term Dependency
10. Long-Term Receipt
11. Events Associated with the Beginning and Ending of Program Spells

Chapter III:  Predictors and Risk Factors Associated with Welfare Receipt

• Economic Risk Factors (ECON)
  1. Poverty Rates
  2. Deep Poverty Rates
  3. Alternative Poverty Measures
  4. Poverty Rates with Various Means-Tested Benefits Included
  5. Poverty Spells
  6. Long-Term Poverty
  7. Child Support
  8. Food Insecurity
  9. Lack of Health Insurance
• Employment and Work-Related Risk Factors (WORK)
  1. Labor Force Attachment
  2. Employment Among the Low-Skilled
  3. Earnings of Low-Skilled Workers
  4. Educational Attainment
  5. High-School Dropout Rates
  6. Adult Alcohol and Substance Abuse
  7. Adult/Child Disability
  8. Children’s Health Conditions
  9. Child Care Expenditures
• Non-Marital Birth Risk Factors (BIRTH)
  1. Births to Unmarried Women
  2. Births to Unmarried Teens
  3. Unmarried Teen Birth Rates Within Age Groups
  4. Never-Married Family Status

Appendix A:  Program Data

• Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Food Stamp Program
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Appendix B:  Alternative Definition of Dependence Based on Income from AFDC/TANF and Food Stamps

Appendix C:  Additional Non-Marital Birth Data

Appendix D:  Sources of Data

List of Exhibits

Microsoft Word version of report (contains raw data for tables)

Acknowledgements

Contributors to this report include Gil Crouse, Susan Hauan, Julia Isaacs, and Matt Lyon of the Office of Human Services Policy under the direction of Barbara Broman, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Services Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

Obtaining a Printed Copy of This Report

Send the report title and your name and address by mail or fax to [and we will mail you a copy]:

You may print a copy of this report on your local printer with these instructions.

Where to?

Top of Page
Table of Contents of Report
Executive Summary
Introduction
Indicators of Dependence
Predictors and Risk Factors Associated with Welfare Receipt
Appendix A:  Program Data
Appendix B:  Alternative Definition of Dependence
Appendix C:  Additional Non-Marital Birth Data
Appendix D:  Sources of Data

Home Pages:
Human Services Policy (HSP)
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Last updated August 22, 2001