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Analysis of Two Studies of Quality in New York City's Aid to Families With Dependent Children Program

HRD-80-48 Published: Feb 07, 1980. Publicly Released: Feb 21, 1980.
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Highlights

An analysis was made of two studies of quality in New York City's Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program to determine: (1) if the difference between the error rate estimates was significant, and (2) which estimate was most accurate. These studies were made by the State Quality Control (QC) staff and the State Office of the Welfare Inspector General (IG). AFDC, one of the largest federally aided public assistance programs, is administered by the States in cooperation with the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). Both HEW and Congress have been concerned for several years with the high incidence of erroneous payments to AFDC recipients. To reduce the error rates, HEW has encouraged States to implement quality control programs, which all States now operate. The statistically valid sample of AFDC cases which the State selects every 6 months is the most important part of quality control. The IG and QC made independent studies in 1976 and reported different eligibility error rates for New York City.

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Eligibility criteriaErroneous paymentsstate relationsIncome maintenance programsProgram managementPublic assistance programsState-administered programslocal relationsWelfare recipientsInspectors general