Press Release Archives #442-98 - 54% of Former Welfare Participants Left Public Assistance Because They Found Work

Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September21, 1998

Release #442-98

Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958
Debra Sproles (HRA) (212) 331-6200

HRA STUDY FINDS 54% OF FORMER WELFARE PARTICIPANTS LEFT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THEY FOUND WORK

Commissioner Jason A. Turner presented Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani with the results from a Human Resources Administration (HRA) survey showing that most people leaving welfare are finding jobs, staying employed, and using those jobs to pull themselves out of poverty. The survey findings, based on interviews with 126 former welfare participants who closed their Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cases in November 1997, showed:

67% of people leaving TANF worked at some point after leaving welfare. More than half (54%) of the respondents reported leaving welfare because they obtained full or part-time employment At the time of the interviews, approximately six months after case closing, 58% of respondents were supporting their families mainly through work
70% of working respondents had more income than their welfare grant leve4 37% above poverty. For respondents who had worked at some time, the median wage was $7.50 an hour Half of the working respondents worked 35 or more hours a week. Of this sub group5 88% had in comes above the welfare level and 69% above the poverty level
· 65% of all respondents said they were either better off in general, or about the same, or unsure of any difference since leaving welfare. 69% percent of those working at least 35 hours a week reported that their general well being had improved after leaving welfare-
Most respondents indicated that requiring work and job search is a fair expectation in exchange for welfare benefits.

"The results of this initial survey show that we can reestablish the fundamental work based social contract1 and restore to individuals the freedom and self-esteem that was lost during the welfare era," said Mayor Rudy Giuliani. "This study also proves that we can end welfare by the year 2000. Once New York City was the welfare capital of the world - now we're the work capital of the world, with the largest and best welfare program in the county. We're making a tremendously positive difference in people's lives and that's something for all New Yorkers to feel proud of," Mayor Giuliani added.

HRA is the City agency directed to assist all adults and heads of families who are now on welfare to help find work in a private job or, if necessary, participate in the Work Experience Program (WEP) so as to enable individuals and families to achieve their highest level of self reliance. HRA is converting welfare offices into Job Centers, which provide the basic infrastructure for connecting individuals to employers. HRA now has eight new Job Centers with more scheduled for Fall 1998

"The HRA exit survey clarifies some of the most asked questions regarding the status of welfare participants after they leave the rolls," said Commissioner Jason A. Turner. "People who leave welfare are clearly better off working even at entry level jobs. Many of these results are similar to other national welfare to work research studies conducted in locations across the United States," Commissioner Turner added.

Under Mayor Giuliani, New York has decreased its welfare rolls by more than 400,000, bringing the total caseload down from over 1.1 million in 1995 to 745,800 participants in 1998.

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