ACF: OPRE Approaching Time Limits

Appendix A

Supplemental Data from the Survey of States

Welfare Time Limits

Table A.1

TANF Basic Policy
State	Name of Program	Maximum Benefit for Family of Three ($)	Maximum Earnings in Month 5 ($)	Sanction Typea
Alabama	Family Assistance	164	No limit	Gradual full-family
Alaska	Alaska Temporary Assistance Program	923	1,920	Partial
Arizona	EMPOWER	347	586	Gradual full-family
Arkansas	Transitional Employment Assistance	204	697	Gradual full-familya
California	CalWORKs	679	1,582	Partial
Colorado	Colorado Works	356	541	Gradual full-family
Connecticut	Temporary Family Assistance	543	1,157	Gradual full-family
Delaware	Delaware's A Better Chance	338	988	Gradual full-family
District of Columbia	TANF	379	1,296	Partial
Florida	Welfare Transition Program	303	806	Immediate full-family
Georgia	TANF	280	544	Gradual full-family
Hawaii	Pursuit of New Opportunities	570	1,363	Immediate full-family
Idaho	Temporary Assistance for Families in Idaho	293	625	Immediate full-family
Illinois	TANF	349-377	3 x payment	Gradual full-family
Indiana	IMPACT	288	408	Partial
Iowa	Family Independence Program	426	1,065	Immediate full-family
Kansas	Temporary Assistance for Families	403	762	Immediate full-family
Kentucky	Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (K-TAP)	262	646	Partial
Louisiana	Family Independence Temporary Assistance Prog.	240	1,260	Gradual full-family
Maine	TANF and ASPIRE-TANF	461	1,103	Partial
Maryland	Temporary Cash Assistance	472	637	Immediate full-family
Massachusetts	TAFDC	618	1,045	Gradual full-family
Michigan	Family Independence Program	459	774	Gradual full-family
Minnesota	Minnesota Family Investment Program	831	1,474	Partial
Mississippi	TANF	170	no limit	Immediate full-family
Missouri	Beyond Welfare	292	1,146	Partial
Montana	TANF Cash Assistance	494	1,164	Partial
Nebraska	Employment First	364	669	Immediate full-family
Nevada	TANF	348	696	Gradual full-family
New Hampshire	Employment Project and Family Assistance	600	1,200	Partial
New Jersey	Work First New Jersey	424	848	Gradual full-family
New Mexico	New Mexico Works	389	1,036	Gradual full-family
New York	Family Assistance	577	1,220	Partial
North Carolina	Work First	272	750	Gradual full-family
North Dakota	Economic Assistance	457	784	Gradual full-family
Ohio	Ohio Works First	373	975	Immediate full-family
Oklahoma	Statewide Temporary Assistance Responsibility	292	702	Immediate full-family
Oregon	TANF	460	616	Gradual full-family
Pennsylvania	TANF	403	806	Gradual full-family
Rhode Island	Family Independence Program	554	1,278	Partial
South Carolina	Family Independence Program	204	609	Immediate full-family
South Dakota	TANF	469	675	Gradual full-family
Tennessee	Families First	185	949	Immediate full-family
Texas	TANF Cash Assistance	208	328	Partial
Utah	Family Employment Program	451	1,002	Gradual full-family
Vermont	Aid to Needy Families with Children/Reach Up	638	1,000	Partial
Virginia	TANF	320	1,157	Immediate full-family
Washington	Work First	546	1,092	Partial
West Virginia	West Virginia Works	453	varies	Gradual full-family
Wisconsin	Wisconsin Works	673	- - -	Gradual full-family
Wyoming	POWER	340	539	Immediate full-family

NOTES: aImmediate full-family sanctions close the case in the first instance of noncompliance; gradual full-family sanctions may reduce the size of the grant in the first instance of noncompliance, but close the case in later instances; partial sanctions reduce the size of the grant.(back)

^bOr partial sanction at county's discretion.

Welfare Time Limits

Table A.2

Key Features of the Time-Limit Policies
State	Shorter Time Limit (months)	Lifetime Limit (months)	Date Families First Exceed(ed) Limita	Consequences of Reaching Limit if Extension Is Not Granted
Alabama		60	11/2001	Closes TANF case
Alaska		60	7/2002	Closes TANF case
Arizona	24 in 60	None	11/1997	Removes adult; adult is eligible after 36 months of ineligibility
Arkansas		24	7/2000	Closes TANF case
California		60	1/2003	Removes adult
Colorado		60	7/2002	Closes TANF case; county may provide diversion or short-term assistance
Connecticut	21	60	11/1997	Closes TANF case; may be eligible for safety net services
Delawareb		36	10/1999	Closes TANF case
District of Columbia		60	3/2002	Removes non-compliant adult from assistance unit
Florida	24 in 60 or 36 in 72	48	10/1998	Closes TANF case
Georgia		48	1/2001	Closes TANF case
Hawaii		60	12/2001	Closes TANF case; subsidy provided for full-time employment
Idaho		24	7/1999	Closes TANF case
Illinois		60	7/2002	Closes TANF case
Indiana		24	8/1997	Removes adult
Iowa		60	1/2002	Closes TANF case
Kansas		60	10/2001	Closes TANF case
Kentucky		60	11/2001	Closes TANF case
Louisiana	24 in 60	60	12/1998	Closes TANF case
Maine		60	11/2001	Closes TANF case
Maryland		60	1/2002	Continues family's benefits to compliant families
Massachusetts	24 in 60	None	12/1998	Closes TANF case
Michigan		None		States does not have time limit
Minnesota		60	7/2002	Closes TANF case
Mississippi		60	10/2001	Closes TANF case
Missouri		60	7/2002	Closes TANF case
Montana		60	2/2002	Closes TANF case
Nebraska	24 in 48	None	12/1998	Closes TANF case
Nevada	24 ineligible for 12	60	1/2000	Closes TANF case
New Hampshire		60	10/2001	Closes TANF case
New Jersey		60	4/2002	Closes TANF case
New Mexico		60	7/2002	Closes TANF case
New York		60	12/2001	Closes TANF case; families eligible for safety net services
North Carolina	24 ineligible for 36	60	8/1998	Closes TANF case
North Dakota		60	7/2002	Closes TANF case
Ohio	36 ineligible for 24	60	10/2000	Closes TANF case
Oklahoma		60	10/2001	Closes TANF case
Oregon	24 in 84	None	7/1998	Time limit only applies to noncompliant cases
Pennsylvania		60	3/2002	Closes TANF case
Rhode Island		60	5/2002	Removes adult
South Carolina	24 in 120	60	10/1998	Closes TANF case
South Dakota		60	12/2001	Closes TANF case
Tennessee	18 ineligible for 3	60	4/1998	Terminates for 3 months
Texas	12, 24, or 36 c	60	1/1998	Removes adult after shorter limit; closes TANF case after 60 monthse
Utah		36	1/2000	Closes TANF case
Vermont		None		States does not have time limit
Virginia	24 ineligible for 24	60	10/1999	Closes TANF case
Washington		60	8/2002	Removes adult if he/she refuses to participate in WorkFirst program
West Virginia		60	12/2001	Closes TANF case
Wisconsin	24	60	4/1999	Closes TANF case
Wyoming		60d	2/1999	Closes TANF case

NOTES: aDenotes the month following the date families could potentially accumulate the maximum number of months of TANF assistance.(back)

bPrior to January 2000, Delaware limited assistance to 48 months after which families were ineligible for 96 months.(back)

cDepends on educational background and work experience.(back)

dWyoming counted up to 36 months of retrospective benefits that occurred prior to 2/97.(back)

e Applies to families living in areas that operate a state education and training program. In areas where no such program exists, families face 60-month time limit only.(back)

Welfare Time Limits

Table A.3

Exemption Criteria
State	Disabled or Caring for Disabled Family Member	Elderly	Victim of Domestic Violence	Caring for Young Childa	Pregnantb	Minor Parentc	Adult is Employed	Child Care Unavailable	Other
Alabama	X	X	X		X				Alcohol or mental health counseling
Alaska
Arizona	X	X					X		In subsidized Job Start program.
Arkansas	X	X	X	X	X			X	Exempt from work requirements; child at risk for neglect Nonparent caretaker who is responsible for children who are
California	X	X	X						wards of the court or at risk of placement in foster care
Colorado
Connecticut	X	X		X	X	X			Declared unemployable; postpartum and unable to work
Delaware	X		X	X	X		X	X	High unemployment
District of Columbia	X
Florida	X
Georgia				X
Hawaii	X	X	X	X					Americorps/Vista volunteer
Idaho
Illinois	X					X	X		In post-secondary education
Indiana	X	X	X	X	X			X
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky			X
Louisiana	X				X		X
Maine	X								In post-secondary education; noncitizens
Maryland	X		X				X
Massachusetts	X	X	X	X	X	X
Michigan
Minnesota		X	X		X	X
Mississippi
Missouri	X	X							In subsidized employment program
Montana						X
Nebraska	X	X	X	X		X
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey	X	X	X						Unemployable
New Mexico									High unemployment (greater than 50%)
New York									Receiving subsidy paid to employer/3rd party
North Carolina	X							X	Lack of transportation; in post-secondary education
North Dakota
Ohio	X	X	X	X		X		X	Relative caregiver; exempt from work requirement; in eduation or training; high unemployment; unable to find or retain employment; support service unavailable
Oklahoma
Oregon	X			X	X				Complying with work requirements.
Pennsylvania							X		Participating early in work; addressing barriers
Rhode Island	X	X	X				X
South Carolina	X					X		X	Transportation unavailable
South Dakota
Tennessee	X	X	X	X		X		X	Low education level; in vocational rehab; in drug/alcohol rehab; exemption recommended by Family Services counselor
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia	X	X			X	X
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin				X
Wyoming	X								In post-secondary education
Total	26	16	15	12	10	10	7	7

NOTES:aAge of child varies from three months to two years.(back)

bIn some states, pregnancy exemptions are provided only in the event that the individual is unable to work.(back)

cIn some states, exemptions to minor parents require that the parent be employed, in school, compliant, or head of household.(back)

Welfare Time Limits

Table A.4

Extension Criteria
State	Disabled or Caring for Disabled Family Member	Victim of Domestic Violence	Good Faith Effort	Living in Area with High Unemployment or Limited Job Opportunities	Lacking Child Care or Other Support Service	Has Other Significant Barriers a	Completing Education or Training	Has Child at Risk of Foster Care, Abuse, or Neglect	Other
Alabama				X					Hardship for 12 of last 24 months
Alaska	X	X							Unable to achieve self-sufficiency
Arizona			X				X
Arkansas	X	X	X		X			X	Elderly parent/caretaker; caring for young child; pregnant; caretaker exempt from work requirements; extends benefits number of months received benefits out-of-state.
California	X	X	X						Elderly
Colorado	X	X						X
Connecticut			X		X	X			Circumstances beyond control prevent employment; working 35 hours per week
Delaware	X		X	X	X
District of Columbia		X	X
Florida	X	X	X	X				X
Georgia	X	X		X					Active child protective service; in substance abuse program; has not completed work plan
Hawaii			X
Idaho	X
Illinois
Indiana		X	X		X				Circumstances beyond control result in inability to obtain or retain employment
Iowa	X	X			X	X			Hardship; unable to achieve self-sufficiency
Kansas	X	X	X					X	Elderly; unable to achieve self-sufficiency
Kentucky	X	X	X					X	Job loss within month of 60-month limit
Louisiana	X	X		X	X	X	X		Has earned income; pregnant; actively seeking employment/in work component; death of family member
Maine	X	X	X
Maryland			X
Michigan
Minnesota	X								Employed adult; upon request from the county
Mississippi	X	X	X			X			Under 18; pregnant; has child under 18 months
Missouri	X	X				X		X	Experiencing family crisis
Montana	X	X
Nebraska			X		X				Unemployable; caseworker discretion
Nevada		X							Hardship
New Hampshire	X	X	X	X	X	X			In life-threatening situation; reapplying and working 30 hours per week; hardship
New Jersey			X		X				Hardship; recently sanctioned
New Mexico	X	X							Elderly caretaker; SSI application pending
New York	X	X							SSI application pending.
North Carolina			X						Compliant and through no fault of own, is unable to obtain or maintain employment
North Dakota	X	X		X				X	Elderly caretaker
Ohio			X						Hardship
Oklahoma	X					X	X		Under-employed; SSI application pending; unable to achieve self-sufficiency, but working 30 hours
Oregon		X	X						Primary wage earner in a two-parent family died
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island	X	X			X	X	X
South Carolina			X				X
South Dakota	X	X				X			Family safety issue
Tennessee			X	X
Texas	X		X	X
Utah	X	X					X		Hardship; family working more than 80 hours; minor parent; delay of services; never received employment services in another state
Virginia				X			X		Unable to achieve self-sufficiency
Washington	X	X	X						SSI application pending; elderly caretaker
West Virginia	X	X	X	X	X		X		Pregnant; very young child; received inappropriate case management; unable to achieve self-sufficiency
Wisconsin			X	X		X
Wyoming	X	X				X	X		Abandoned; SSI application pending; agency failed participant

NOTES: aIncludes substance abuse, low literacy, and homelessness.(back)

Welfare Time Limits

Table A.5

Structure for Funding TANF and Non-TANF Assistance, September to December 2001 Cases By Funding Source % Families Receiving Assistance from State
State	Share of Cases By Funding Source %			Families Receiving Assistance from State MOE Only
State	Federal Funds (TANF)	Segregated Funds (TANF)	Separate State Program (Non-TANF)	Segregated Funds	Separate State Program
Alabama	98.9	0.0	1.1	---	Two-parent families
Alaska	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Arizona	97.1	2.9	0.0	Families with monthly benefits less than $100	---
Arkansas	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Californiaa	89.3	0.8	9.8	Legal noncitizens; families that include an adult who has reached the federal TANF time limit	Two-parent families
Colorado	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Connecticut	93.2	0.8	6.0	Qualified aliens	Two-parent families and safety net participants
Delaware	n/a	n/a	n/a	Families working 20 hours per week	Two-parent families
District of Columbia	39.6	59.1	1.3	Child-only cases and those not eligible for a federal hardship exemption	Clients eligible for the POWER program (i.e., have an incapacity)
Florida	96.1	0.0	3.9	---	Two-parent families
Georgia	99.3	0.0	0.7	---	Two-parent families and qualified aliens
Hawaii	69.7	0.0	30.3	---	Two-parent families and non-citizen families
Idaho	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Illinois	39.0	59.6	1.4	Exempted cases, including families with earned income	(1) Certain refugees; (2) first time pregnant women; (3) two-parent families
Indiana	95.7	0.0	4.3	---	Two-parent families
Iowa	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Kansas	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Kentuckya	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Louisiana	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Maineb	85.5	0.0	14.5	---	(1) Parents as Scholar Program participants; (2) non-citizens; (3) households in which one member is receiving SSI
Maryland	91.4	3.0	5.7	Families with earned income	(1) Legal immigrants; (2) 19-year old child who will graduate from high school in the year he/she turns 19; (3) two-parent families; (4) severely disabled individuals applying for SSI; (5) victims of domestic violence; (6) children residing with a related non-parent adult where both receive assistance
Massachusetts	62.9	37.1	0.0	Lawfully residing non-citizens and exempt individuals	---
Michigan	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Minnesota	84.6	6.6	8.8	(1) Families with individual 60 or over; (2) minor caregivers complying with educational plan; (3) participants with a family violence plan or alternative employment plan; and (4) TANF ineligible noncitizens	Two-parent families
Mississippi	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Missouri	94.8	0.0	5.2	---	(1) Disabled parents/caretakers; (2) elderly parents/caretakers over 60; (3) legal aliens in the US less than 5 years; (4) children in home under age one when that exemption from work activities has been allowed more than 12 months
Montana	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	At-home Infant Care Pilot Program participants (few enrolled in fall 2001)
Nebraska	91.9	0.0	8.1	---	Two-parent families
Nevada	95.6	0.0	4.4	---	Two-parent families
New Hampshire	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
New Jersey	96.7	0.0	3.3	---	Two-parent families
New Mexico	97.6	0.0	2.4	---	(1) Legal aliens; (2) enrolled in 24-month post-secondary education program
New Yorka	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
North Carolina	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
North Dakota	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Ohio	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Oklahoma	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Oregon	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Pennsylvania	98.0	2.0	0.0	Exempt individuals, including families with earned income, and qualified aliens	---
Rhode Island	87.7	4.8	7.4	Single-parents working 30 hours weekly or two-parent families working 35 hours weekly	(1) Some legal immigrants; (2) two-parent families working under 35 hours weekly; 3) minor teen heads of household; (4) in loco parentis cases; and (5) fugitive felons
South Carolina	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
South Dakota	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Tennessee	98.5	0.0	1.5	---	(1) Two-parent families; (2) married during receipt (spouse's income is not counted); (3) alien cases; (4) drug felons if excluded from TANF and children are eligible
Texas	96.3	0.0	3.7	---	Two-parent families
Utaha	99.1	0.0	0.9	---	Two Parent Families Working Toward Employment (FEP-TP) and required to participate in activities that lead to employment
Vermont	94.3	0.0	5.7	---	In the Postsecondary Education Program
Virginia	97.4	0.0	2.6	---	Two-parent families
Washingtona	98.9	1.1	0.0	Immigrant families	---
West Virginia	100.0	0.0	0.0	---	---
Wisconsin	96.9	0.0	3.1	---	Qualified aliens and participants receiving W-2 Interim Assistance who are applying for SSI
Wyoming	98.7	0.0	1.3	---	In State Adult Student Financial Aid (SASFA) program, which provides benefits to postsecondary education students under certain criteria
Total	92.8	3.3	3.9

NOTES: aBased on September to November 2001 data only(back)

bBased on November 2001 data only(back)

Welfare Time Limits

Table A.6

Policies and Practices Targeting Families Approaching Time Limit
State	Meet With Head of Household	Conduct Home Visits	Assess Family Needs	Assess Employment Barriers	Provide Job Search Assistance	Provide Subsidized Employment	Send Letter to Family
Alabama	X	X	X	X	X		X
Alaska	X		X	X			X
Arizona	X		X	X	X		X
Arkansas	X		X	X	X		X
California							X
Colorado							X
Connecticut	X						X
Delaware			X	X			X
District of Columbia	X	X	X		X	X
Florida	X		X	X	X		X
Georgia	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Hawaii	X		X	X	X		X
Idaho	X	X	X	X	X		X
Illinois	X		X	X	X		X
Indiana							X
Iowa	X			X
Kansas	X		X	X	X		X
Kentucky	X	X	X				X
Louisiana	X						X
Maine							X
Maryland	X		X	X	X		X
Massachusetts	X		X	X	X		X
Michigan
Minnesota	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Mississippi	X		X	X			X
Missouri	X		X	X	X	X	X
Montana	X	X	X	X	X		X
Nebraska	X		X	X	X