|
Old Welfare System
|
New Welfare System
|
| AFDC - The program entitled all needy families
and individuals to federal and state assistance. In some cases,
there were work requirements attached to the benefits however, there
were no time limits on benefits. |
TANF* - The program has a lifetime eligibility
limit of five years. Assistance cannot be provided to families where
an adult has received a total of 60 consecutive or nonconsecutive
months of TANF benefits. States have the option to set lower lifetime
limits. |
| The program expense was a shared burden assumed by states and
the federal government. |
States are allowed to exempt up to 20% of their TANF caseload
from the lifetime limit for hardship reasons. |
| Federal regulations governed the fundamental tenants of the program. |
Funded through block grants to the states. Block grants total
$16.4 billion annually for the country, with no funding for job
training and job placement efforts. |
Food Stamps
Entitlement for eligible persons with no time limit on benefits.
No work requirements imposed for recipients. |
Food Stamps*
Entitlement for eligible persons. Total benefits are reduced by
3% for all recipients and imposes work requirements for childless
adults. TANF families will remain eligible for Food Stamps even
when their TANF benefits end. |
| Legal Immigrants meeting all other eligibility requirements may
receive benefits. |
Most legal immigrants, and specifically those who arrived in the
U.S. after 8/22/96 or those who were not receiving benefits prior
to 8/22/96, are not eligible for Food Stamps until they become citizens. |
| No age-based requirements imposed for eligible adults. |
Persons 18-50 years old without children at home who are able
to work are entitled to Food Stamps for only 3 months during every
36-month period. The 3-month timetable starts the day official notice
is received from the local or state Department of Social Services. |
| Military personnel distinctions not applicable under the former
food stamp program. |
Military personnel or veterans who are honorably discharged (and
their spouses or unmarried dependent children) are permanently exempt. |
Medicaid
Families who were eligible for AFDC were automatically eligible
for SSI and State-administered medical programs. |
Medicaid
States can opt to terminate benefits for adult TANF recipients who
fail to meet their TANF work requirements. Children are excluded. |
|
Families not receiving TANF but who would have been eligible for
AFDC are still eligible for State-administered medical programs.
|
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Children living in families eligible for AFDC were automatically
qualified for Medicaid or State-administered medical programs. |
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
The children's SSI program will be cut by $8.2 billion. A narrowed
definition of disabled for SSI eligibility will end eligibility
for or deny eligibility to 315,000 low-income children with disabilities.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 15% of these children
will also lose eligibility for Medicaid. |
| Immigrants otherwise eligible for SSI were not made ineligible
based on immigrant status. |
Immigrants are ineligible until citizenship. States must terminate
SSI and Food Stamps at first scheduled recertification dates, which
are staggered over the next year. |
