Poverty at Issue Winter 2001-2002--Missouri Families Who Left the Welfare Roles

College of Human Environmental Science, Department of Consumer and Family Economics
University Outreach and Extension, University of Missouri—Columbia

Missouri Families Who Left the Welfare Rolls

In January 2000, the Missouri Department of Social Services published results from a study focusing on Missouri “TANF Leavers”—those who left the TANF rolls in the fourth quarter of 1996. Researchers used data collected through surveys of the leavers themselves two and one-half years after they left the rolls, and public administrative data.

Two and one-half years after leaving TANF:

65% of Missouri leavers were employed an average 34 hours per week
35% of leavers who were employed still received cash assistance
25% were not employed but had worked at some point since leaving
$6.00 was Missouri leavers’ median hourly wage
$600 was leavers’ median monthly earnings ($1,100 for those who were working when interviewed)
43% of leavers had returned to TANF at some point following initial exit
31% of leavers said they need to stay home to care for family member(s)
26% cited illness and/or disability as an employment barrier
14% said they could not locate employment opportunities
9% were in school
4% said they could not work due to lack of transportation and childcare

To view the complete report, MRI Study on the Status of Persons Leaving Welfare, go to http://www.mriresearch.org/servicesSocialsocial_intro.htm#Study .

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