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INCOME AND EARNINGS
EMPLOYMENT RETENTION AND ADVANCEMENT PROJECT (ERA)
Measure: Income and earnings items from the ERA follow-up 12-month survey instrument
Note: This options document uses the ERA follow-up 12-month survey instrument from the fall of 2002.
Source
The ERA is funded by the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and by the U.S. Department of Labor. MDRC conducts the evaluation with technical assistance from the Lewin Group.
Population Assessed
There are 15 ERA programs being implemented across eight states:
California: Los Angeles County (two sites) and Riverside County (two sites)
Illinois
Minnesota
New York: New York City
Ohio
Oregon: Medford, Eugene, Salem
South Carolina
Texas: Fort Worth, Houston, Corpus Christi
A majority of the ERA projects are in urban areas, are relatively large, and enroll approximately 1,000 to 2,000 people during a 1- to 2-year-period. Random assignment is used in each site to assign individuals to the treatment (i.e., ERA programs) or the control (i.e., services available before ERA) groups except in the case of Cleveland, Ohio, where employers are assigned randomly. The final expected sample size is over 40,000 individuals. Because the ERA project consists of 15 separate studies of each of the programs, methods of random assignment and the type of population assessed will vary among the programs. However, all programs target low-income individuals, typically current and/or former recipients of TANF.
Periodicity
The evaluation will last for 8 years. It began in September 1999 and is scheduled to conclude in September 2007. Site development occurred from fall 1999 through winter 2003. Pilot assessments occurred from spring 2001 through 2002. Technical assistance and feedback have been ongoing through 2003. Random assignment and the collection of baseline data has been staggered with the first sites starting in mid-2001 and the last site projected to conclude random assignment in March 2005. Post random assignment assessments occurred during 2002–2003. Implementation research occurs between 2002 and 2004. A 12-month survey in the field (the subject of this options document) will occur during 2003–2005, 12 months after the random assignment date in each site. The 36-month survey will occur beginning in 2005.
Components
The majority of income and earnings questions come in one of two sections of the ERA 12-month survey: Section C (Employment History) and Section H (Household Income). The Section C questions ask about wages for each of the respondent’s jobs since the random assignment date. Respondents are asked to provide the most recent wage they had at the job and are given a choice as to the reference period with which they present that wage. For certain jobs, starting wage and benefits received are also asked. Section H asks whether the respondent or his/her household received various forms of public assistance, but does not ask for dollar amounts. The survey then inquires separately about the respondent’s total monthly household income and personal income from all sources combined. One question asks if the respondent filled out a federal tax return, but does not inquire about the amount of taxes.
Other sections of the survey ask other questions related to monetary and nonmonetary forms of income and expenditures. Section A (Participation in Employment and Education Activities) inquires about receipt of financial aid or tuition reimbursement for various educational opportunities. Section D (Message from and Experiences of Program) asks about receipt of family services. Section E (Marital Status, Household Size and Child Care) questions the respondent on child care assistance. Section F (Transportation) inquires about the respondent’s weekly expenditures on work-related transportation. Section G (Health Coverage) asks if the respondent and his household have health insurance.
Procedures for Administration
The follow-up 12-month survey is administered by computer-assisted telephone interview to the experimental and control group members in each program site. The core survey itself takes about 37 minutes. On average, it takes respondents 3.5 minutes to complete the income section and, depending upon the number of jobs reported by the respondent, from 3 to 9 minutes to complete the earnings section.
Psychometrics/Data Quality
Psychometric information is not yet available.
Languages Available
The ERA follow-up 12-month survey can be administered in English and Spanish.
Items Included
Because the ERA follow-up 12-month survey is not available online, a complete list of its income and earnings questions follow. The survey can also be requested from the Project Director (Barbara Goldman, Barbara.goldman@mdrc.org) or the ACF Project Officer John K. Maniha, jmaniha@acf.hhs.gov). Except for Section H (Household Income), the sections listed contain questions not related to income and earnings, which were omitted. Skip patterns were also deleted unless they were deemed necessary to understanding the question.
Source: ERA 12-month survey
Section A: Participation in Employment and Education Activities
ESL
A3a. Since [Random Assignment Date (RAD)] have you ever taken part in ESL classes, that is English as a Second Language?
A3j. While you were attending these ESL classes did you receive financial aid?
ABE/GED/Regular HS
A4a. Since [RAD] have you ever taken part in any Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes, GED classes or classes to prepare for a regular high school diploma? IF NECESSARY, READ “Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes are for improving your basic reading and math skills. GED classes help prepare for the GED test.”
A4j. While you were attending these ABE, GED, or high school classes did you receive financial aid?
COLLEGE COURSES
A5a. Since [RAD] have you ever taken any college courses for credit towards a college degree? This would include courses at community, two-year, and four-year colleges.
A5h. Did your employer reimburse you for your tuition costs or help pay all or part of the costs?
A5k. While you were attending these college classes did you receive financial aid?
SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT
A7a. Since [RAD] did you have an on-the-job training position, that is a job in which, for a specific period of time, all or part of your wages were paid for by a welfare or employment program? Sometimes these programs are called subsidized employment, supported work, or transitional employment.
A7b. Did this job become a regular job, that is, did the employer start paying your entire wage?
A7c. Are you currently working in this job?
A7d. Since [RAD], about how many months were all or part of your wages paid for by a welfare or employment program and not an employer?
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
A8a. Since [RAD] did you get vocational training for a specific job, trade, or occupation [CATI: IF A5A = 1 (YES) AND A5B = 2 (NO), INSERT “other than the college courses you just mentioned”]? Please don’t include on-the-job training or unpaid work experience.
A8j. Did your employer reimburse you for your tuition costs or help pay all or part of the costs?
A8l. While you were taking these classes did you receive financial aid?
OTHER EDUCATION/TRAINING
A9a. Are there any other employment-related activities that you took part in since [RAD] that we did not talk about, such as workshops on career goals, life skills, or how to keep a job?
A9h. While you were attending this activity did you receive financial aid?
Section C: Employment History
The next questions are about all paid jobs you currently have or have had since [RAD]. This includes self-employment, such as paid baby-sitting or housekeeping jobs, or any other jobs you’ve had since [RAD]. Again, I would like to remind you that your answers will remain entirely confidential.
C1. Since [RAD], have you worked for pay at all? (Please don’t count unpaid experience.)
[Some skip patterns omitted. The following income and earnings questions refer to the respondent’s current job, or his/her most recent job if the respondent is not currently working for pay. If respondent currently has more than one job, the following questions refer to the employer for whom the respondent usually works the most hours (or, if hours are the same, the employer for whom the respondent has worked the longest).]
C14. What (is/was) your wage (now/just before you left) before taxes? Please include tips, commissions, and regular overtime pay. IF R’S JOB IS ON AN IRREGULAR SCHEDULE OR A COMMISSION BASIS, PROBE FOR HOW MUCH R MAKES IN A TYPICAL WEEK.
C15. (Is/Was) that:
Per hour
Per week
Every 2 weeks
Twice a month
Once a month
Some other way (specify) __________________________________
Don’t know
Refused
C16. (Is/Was) that before or after taxes?
C17. (Do/Did) you get any of the following benefits on your job?
[NTERVIEWER: SELECT “YES” IF R WILL EVENTUALLY BE OFFERED BENEFITS.]
Sick days with full pay
Paid vacation
Paid holidays other than Christmas and New Year’s Day
Dental benefits, including any offered at a cost to you
A retirement plan
A health plan or medical insurance, including any offered at a cost to you
C18. (Are/Were) you enrolled in the health or medical insurance plan?
C19. What is the main reason you didn’t enroll in your employer’s health insurance plan? Was it
that:
(CIRCLE ONE)
You were covered by Medicaid
You were covered by another insurance plan
The cost was too expensive
You hadn’t worked long enough
Some other reason (specify) __________________________
Don’t know
Refused
C20. When you started this job were your hours and wage the same as (now/when you ended the
job)?
C21. What was your starting wage for this job—that is, how much were your wages when you
started this job? Please include tips, commissions, regular overtime pay and earnings, before
taxes. IF R’S JOB IS ON AN IRREGULAR SCHEDULE OR A COMMISSION BASIS, PROBE
FOR HOW MUCH R MADE IN A TYPICAL WEEK.
C21a. Was that:
Per hour
Per week
Every 2 weeks
Twice a month
Once a month
Some other way (specify)
Don’t know
Refused
C21b. Was that before or after taxes?
[Respondent is then asked to provide information about other current jobs and other jobs
the respondent has had since random assignment date. The following earnings questions
were asked for all of these jobs (up to seven).]
C30. What (is/was) your wage (now/just before you left), before taxes? Please include tips, commissions, and regular overtime pay. INTERVIEWER: IF R’S JOB IS ON AN IRREGULAR SCHEDULE OR A COMMISSION BASIS, PROBE FOR HOW MUCH R MAKES IN A TYPICAL WEEK.
C31. (Is/Was) that:
Per hour
Per week
Every 2 weeks
Twice a month
Once a month
Something else (specify)_________________
C32. (Is/Was) that before or after taxes?
C33. Did your employer make available a health plan or medical insurance, including any offered at a cost to you?
[Respondent is then asked for the following earnings questions about the job he or she was working at on or closest to the random assignment date. If more than one job fits this description, the questions are asked about the respondent’s primary job at that date (the one he or she worked the most hours, or two jobs if there is a tie).]
C34. When you started this job at (JOB NAME), were your hours and wage the same as (now/when you ended the job?)
C35. What was your starting wage for this job —that is, how much were your wages when you started this job, before taxes? Please include tips, commissions, and regular overtime pay.
C36. Was that:
Per hour
Per week
Every 2 weeks
Twice a month
Once a month
Something else (specify)_________________
C37. Was that before or after taxes?
Section E: Marital Status, Household Size and Child Care
Now I’d like to ask you some questions about you and your family.
[The following questions were asked if the respondent had children 12 years old or younger.]
E5. Now I’m going to ask you about child care. Child care includes day care center or nursery school, Head Start, a babysitter, including brothers or sisters, the child’s other parent if [she/he] does not live with you, or other relatives, and summer camps . Please don’t count kindergarten, first grade, or higher. Since [RAD], were any of your children under age 13 cared for in a child care arrangement?
E6. Was this a regular child care arrangement? By ‘regular’ I mean at least once a week for a month or more.
E7. Since [RAD] have you or anyone in your household paid anything for any of this child care even if you were paid back?
E8. Since (RAD) did anyone else pay for part or all of the costs of this child care? By this I mean a government agency, your employer, or someone else outside your household?
E9. Since RAD have you had a child care arrangement where the amount you paid depended on how much your income was?
Section F: Transportation
F4. Altogether, how much (do/did) you spend, per week, on transportation to and from your job? Please don’t include any expenses that (are/were) paid or reimbursed by someone else but do include what you spend on gas, tolls, and parking. INTERVIEWER: ROUND TO NEAREST WHOLE NUMBER.
Section G: Health Coverage
The next few questions are about health coverage for you and your family. G1. In (PRIOR MONTH) were you covered by Medicaid?
PROBE: Did you have a valid Medicaid card?
G1a. In (PRIOR MONTH) were you covered by any health insurance plan?
G2. In (PRIOR MONTH) was your (CATI: IF E2 = 1 OR 2, INSERT “spouse.” IF E3 = 1, INSERT “live-in partner”) covered by Medicaid?
PROBE: Did he or she have a valid Medicaid card?
G2a. In (PRIOR MONTH) was he or she covered by any other health insurance plan?
G3. Thinking about all your children under age 18 who lived with you in (PRIOR MONTH), were all of your children covered by Medicaid or (CATI: INSERT STATE NAME)’s (CATI: INSERT NAME OF STATE’S CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM), were just some of them covered, or were none of them covered?
G3a. Thinking about the children who were not covered by Medicaid or (CATI: INSERT STATE NAME)’s (CATI: INSERT NAME OF STATE’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM), were all of them covered by another health insurance plan, just some of them covered, or were none of them covered?
G4. In (PRIOR MONTH) was your child covered by Medicaid or (CATI: INSERT STATE) ‘s (CATI: INSERT NAME OF STATE’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM)?
G4a. In (PRIOR MONTH) was your child covered by any other health insurance plan?
Section H: Household Income
Now I am going to ask you some questions about your household income in (PRIOR MONTH). Again, I want to assure you that none of your answers will be discussed with anyone.
During (PRIOR MONTH):
H1a. Did you have a job?
H1b. Did anyone else in your household have a job?
H2. In (PRIOR MONTH), did [you/you or anyone else in your household] receive:
Food Stamps
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) or any cash assistance not including support money or child care payments?
Child Support?
SSI (Supplemental Security Income or Disability)?
Who received SSI (Supplementary Security Income or Disability)?
Was it you or someone else, or both?
Since [RAD] have you applied for SSI?
H3a. What was the total income of all members of your household (including yourself) from all sources in (PRIOR MONTH)? PROBE: Your best estimate is fine. INTERVIEWER: ROUND TO NEAREST WHOLE NUMBER.
[The following question(s) are asked if the respondent answered that he or she did not know, but not if he or she refused.]
H3b. Would you say it was more or less than $1,500?
H3c. Would you say it was:
More than $1,500 but less than $2,000,
At least $2000 but less than $2,500, or
$2,500 or more?
Don’t know
Refused
H3d. Would you say it was:
At least $1,200 but less than $1,500,
At least $800 but less than $1,200,
At least $500 but less than $800, or
Less than $500?
Don’t know
Refused
H3e. Was that before or after taxes?
H3f. How much of that household income from (PRIOR MONTH) reflects your own income?
Please include all sources including your wages, public assistance, child support, etc.
[INTERVIEWER: ROUND TO NEAREST WHOLE DOLLAR.]
H4. Did you or will you fill out a federal tax return for (CATI: INSERT PRIOR CALENDAR
YEAR)?
PROBE: This is the return you would file in April of this year.
H5a. Which of the following best describes your current housing arrangements? Do you:
Own your own home or apartment,
Rent your home or apartment,
Live in emergency or temporary housing (E.G. IN A SHELTER OR IS HOMELESS),
Or something else (LIVING WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY WITHOUT PAYING RENT)?
Don’t know
Refused
H5b. Do you live in:
Public housing, (HOUSING OWNED BY A FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY)
Private housing that is subsidized by government aid, (such as Section 8 or vouchers), or do you live in
Private housing paid for by you with no help from the government? (ENTIRE RENT BILL PAID WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO A LANDLORD, FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND)
Don’t know
Refused
References and Source Documents
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2002, February). New strategies to promote
stable employment and career progression: An introduction to the Employment Retention
and Advancement Project. Washington, DC. URL:
http://www.mdrc.org/Reports2002/era_conferencerpt/era_2000_2001.pdf
Reports about early impacts are expected beginning in mid 2004. The implementation and preliminary impacts are for an early cohort of enrollees for each site. ERA programs will be covered in separate interim reports in 2005–2006. Reports that explore specific topics from a cross-program perspective will be released periodically. A final report including impacts and cost-benefits is expected in 2007.
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