In spite of welfare reforms, for many, the cycle continues

By Chris Burch
Staff Writer

The Welfare Reform Act that was established in 1996 was designed to get able-bodied recipients off welfare and into a job. Under the act, The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (better known as TANF) program came about. TANF is a federally funded plan created to offer financial assistance for individuals for a limited amount of time with a stipulation that the recipients partake in the various job training or educational programs.

TANF recipients are single-parent heads of households. The TANF client is eligible to receive a maximum of 60 months/five years on welfare. Robin G, A welfare recipient who for the purpose of this story did not wish to give a last name said, “The problem with time-limits is that it put some pressure on me to get work, but I don’t have a lot of work experience and I need a job with medical benefits.”

Some participants feel that the time-limit plan has created a revolving door. Time-limit clients are returning to welfare although their 60 months are finished. “You can blame the economy, you can blame public assistance or you can blame the individual,” said Jeffrey L., a former welfare employee who now works for a private hospital in Manhattan. He continues, “if a mother with five kids has to get back on welfare after her time is up, then maybe there is something wrong with the system.” .

“No plan has ever worked 100 percent,” said Barney Reid. “When welfare made people work, I was for it. People need to work for a living, but to give people a certain amount of time to get a job is not right.”

Mr. Reid was turned down for welfare benefits because he recently quit his job as a plasterer and painter. He felt that the work environment was hazardous to his health.

There are people who have benefited from TANF. Tanya M. feels that if welfare was going to help her get employment, “then I am going to take full advantage of it. I was already looking for work. When the time-limit situation came out, I did not wait until my time was up. I got a job working with the Board of Education. The time-limit thing made me more driven.”

In 2000, former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani indicated that out of nearly 2 million families on welfare, 500,000 heads of households were working due to welfare.

Out of that half million, some continue to rely on welfare benefits. Though much effort has been put into getting people off welfare and into a self sufficient living conditions, the cycle persists. Thousands of people are still unable t either maintain a job, find work or get jobs with affordable wages, which leaves them with only welfare to fall back on.