Imposing a 40-Hour Requirement Would Hurt State Welfare Reform Efforts

Publication Date: February 2003

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

Author(s): Mark Greenberg; Hedieh Rahmanou

Research Area: Social conditions

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

The Administrations Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) reauthorization proposal and the House reauthorization bill, H.R. 4, would require that an individual must participate in activities for at least 40 hours a week in order to fully count toward program participation rates.

This paper argues that the 40-hour requirement would make it harder for states to run effective employment programs; would force states to misallocate limited TANF and child care dollars; ignores the fact that some parents are caring for ill or disabled family members; and does not acknowledge that the average work-week is less than 40 hours for mothers with school-age and younger children.