Indicators of Welfare Dependence

Annual Report to the Congress
2002

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

This report is available on the Internet at:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/indicators02/

How to Obtain Printed Copies

Contents

Executive Summary

I. Introduction and Overview

• Organization of Report
• Measuring Welfare Dependence
• Measuring Deprivation
• Data Sources

II. Indicators of Dependence

1. Degree of Dependence
2. Receipt of Means-Tested Assistance and Labor Force Attachment
3. Rates of Receipt of Means-Tested Assistance
4. Rates of Participation in Means-Tested Assistance Programs
5. Multiple Program Receipt
6. Dependence Transitions
7. Dependence Spell Duration
8. Program Spell Duration
9. Long-Term Dependence
10. Long-Term Receipt
11. Events Associated with the Beginning and Ending of Program Spells

III. Predictors and Risk Factors Associated with Welfare Receipt

Economic Security Risk Factors

• ECON 1. Poverty Rates
• ECON 2. Deep Poverty Rates
• ECON 3. Experimental Poverty Measures
• ECON 4. Poverty Rates with Various Means-Tested Benefits Included
• ECON 5. Poverty Spells
• ECON 6. Long-Term Poverty
• ECON 7. Child Support
• ECON 8. Food Insecurity
• ECON 9. Lack of Health Insurance

Employment and Work-Related Risk Factors

• WORK 1. Labor Force Attachment
• WORK 2. Employment Among the Low-Skilled
• WORK 3. Earnings of Low-Skilled Workers
• WORK 4. Educational Attainment
• WORK 5. High School Dropout Rates
• WORK 6. Adult Alcohol and Substance Abuse
• WORK 7. Adult/Child Disability
• WORK 8. Children’s Health Conditions

Non-Marital Birth Risk Factors

• BIRTH 1. Births to Unmarried Women
• BIRTH 2. Births to Unmarried Teens
• BIRTH 3. Unmarried Teen Birth Rates Within Age Groups
• BIRTH 4. Never-Married Family Status

Appendices

1. Program Data

   • Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
   • Food Stamp Program
   • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

2. Alternative Definition of Dependence Based on Income from TANF and Food Stamps

3. Additional Non-Marital Birth Data

Contributors to this report include Gil Crouse, Susan Hauan, Julia Isaacs, and Matt Lyon of the Office of Human Services Policy under the direction of Don Winstead, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Services Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, HHS.

How to Obtain a Printed Copy

To obtain a printed copy of this report, send or fax the title and your mailing information to:

You may also print the PDF version of the report. First, make sure the Adobe Acrobat Reader is installed in your browser. Then, double click on and print each section below:

• Title page, Table of Contents, Executive Summary ( 50.4 KB)
• Chapter I  (42.1 KB)
• Chapter II (128 KB)
• Chapter III (205 KB)
• Appendix A  Introduction and TANF section (160 KB)
• Appendix A, Food Stamp section (81.3 KB)
• Appendix A, SSI section  (73.3 KB)
• Appendix B (12.6 KB)
• Appendix C (14.4 KB)

Where to?

Top of Page | Contents

Main Page of Report | Full Contents

Home Pages:
Human Services Policy
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Last updated: 06/06/02