Work or welfare: The choice for single mothers in poverty

This study examined the perspectives toward work and welfare of single mothers limited to either welfare or the minimum-wage job market to support their families. A snowball sampling technique resulted in a sample of ten women with experience both in the minimum-wage labor market and on welfare. The study took place over fourteen months. A qualitative design was used, including life histories, structured and unstructured interviews, and group interviews. The data were categorized into Incentives to Work and Disincentives to Work. Primary findings were that there are Incentives to Work consisting of psychosocial needs that are gratified by working. It was also found that there are Disincentives to Work within the Public Aid system and the labor market. Policy implications were discussed, based on the findings.U of I OnlyETDs are only available to UIUC Users without author permissio