| Detailed Objective: This project adds a Food Stamp Program and rural component to a large multi-agency
project being managed and directed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. The project will assess the status of Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) recipients after they leave the TANF program, eligible families
who are diverted before being enrolled in TANF, or eligible families who fail
to enroll in TANF. The analysis will include former recipients and former eligibles
of the Food Stamp Program (FSP) and the role that food stamps play in their overall
well-being, with particular focus on former recipients or eligibles who reside
in nonmetropolitan areas. The analysis will address individuals' ability to obtain
employment, and the support provided by their earnings, public programs besides
TANF and food stamps, and other programs.
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996
fundamentally altered both the rules for FSP participation, and the importance
of the FSP for households moving away from program assistance toward economic
self-sufficiency. For households with children, the FSP may serve as a transitional
program in which they participate for some time after leaving TANF. While it
is likely that the strong economy has enabled many to move into the workplace,
little beyond anecdotes indicates what happens to these households once they
leave FSP. The project awarded grants to 13 States for a total of over $2.9
million in fiscal 1998. The Economic Research Service contributed $250,000 in
fiscal 1998 in support of the project. |