Welfare Reform:
States Provide TANF-Funded Services to Many Low-Income Families Who Do Not Receive Cash Assistance
GAO-02-564: Published: Apr 5, 2002. Publicly Released: Apr 5, 2002.
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The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 ended the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program and created the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant to states. TANF emphasizes work and responsibility over dependence on government benefits. It also requires states to maintain a historical level of spending on welfare-related programs. The focus of welfare spending has shifted from monthly cash payments to services. Between fiscal years 1995 and 2000, state expenditures for cash assistance decreased from 71 to 43 percent of total welfare spending. In fiscal year 2000, 26 states used more than half of their TANF and state maintenance-of-effort (MOE) expenditures on services other than cash assistance. In fiscal year 1995, no state spent more than 50 percent of its welfare dollars on these services. In addition to providing benefits and services to families included in the welfare caseload, states are also using TANF/MOE funds to provide services to other low-income families. GAO estimates that at least 46 percent more families than counted in TANF caseload reports are receiving services funded, at least, in part, by TANF/MOE funds. The data on families receiving services are limited in providing a full count of all families provided with TANF/MOE funds. The impact of an economic downturn on funding for work support programs is unclear and will depend on such factors as the extent to which welfare caseloads increase, whether states have TANF reserves available, and the budgetary decisions states make to address the costs associated with increased caseloads.
Jul 25, 2018
SSA Disability Programs:
Better Metrics and Evaluation Needed to Inform Decision-MakingGAO-18-677T: Published: Jul 25, 2018. Publicly Released: Jul 25, 2018.-
Social Security Disability:
Better Timeliness Metrics Needed to Assess Transfers of Appeals WorkGAO-18-501: Published: Jul 19, 2018. Publicly Released: Jul 25, 2018.
May 30, 2018
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Foster Care:
Additional Actions Could Help HHS Better Support States' Use of Private Providers to Recruit and Retain Foster FamiliesGAO-18-376: Published: May 30, 2018. Publicly Released: May 30, 2018.
Apr 10, 2018
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Social Security Disability Insurance:
Information on Potential Implications of Expanding Private Disability InsuranceGAO-18-248: Published: Apr 10, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 10, 2018.
Feb 8, 2018
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Substance-Affected Infants:
Additional Guidance Would Help States Better Implement Protections for ChildrenGAO-18-196: Published: Jan 19, 2018. Publicly Released: Feb 8, 2018.
Nov 9, 2017
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Child Well-Being:
Key Considerations for Policymakers, Including the Need for a Federal Cross-Agency Priority GoalGAO-18-41SP: Published: Nov 9, 2017. Publicly Released: Nov 9, 2017.
Sep 6, 2017
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SSA's Compassionate Allowance Initiative:
Actions Needed to Improve the Accuracy and Consistency of Expedited Processing of Disability ClaimsGAO-17-795T: Published: Sep 6, 2017. Publicly Released: Sep 6, 2017. -
SSA's Compassionate Allowance Initiative:
Improvements Needed to Make Expedited Processing of Disability Claims More Consistent and AccurateGAO-17-625: Published: Aug 11, 2017. Publicly Released: Sep 6, 2017.
Jul 14, 2017
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Federal Low-Income Programs:
Eligibility and Benefits Differ for Selected Programs Due to Complex and Varied RulesGAO-17-558: Published: Jun 29, 2017. Publicly Released: Jul 14, 2017.
Jul 13, 2017
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Early Childhood Learning and Child Care:
Overview of Federal Investment and Agency CoordinationGAO-17-671T: Published: Jul 13, 2017. Publicly Released: Jul 13, 2017.
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