ASSESSING THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF FOOD STAMP LEAVERS

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 dramatically altered the welfare system. Among the changes: work-related requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) and tighter limitations on their participation in the Food Stamp Program. The Economic Research Service, USDA, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, HHS, jointly funded and commissioned four State studies to determine the well-being of ABAWDs who had left food stamps in the post-reform era. Results of those studies are discussed in this issues brief