Texas Families First Task Force Meeting Presentation by Diane Rath Chair & Commissioner Representing...
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Texas Families First Task Force Meeting Presentation by Diane Rath Chair & Commissioner Representing the Public Texas Workforce Commission October 9, 2003
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Transcript of Texas Families First Task Force Meeting Presentation by Diane Rath Chair & Commissioner Representing...
Texas Families First Task Force Meeting
Presentation byDiane Rath
Chair & Commissioner Representing the PublicTexas Workforce Commission
October 9, 2003
TWC 10/9/03
Family Support Act of 1988
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TWC 10/9/03
Texas’ Welfare Population
Mid-1990s before welfare reform
263,455 cases 721,705 recipients 212,788 adults
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TWC 10/9/03
1995 State Welfare Law1. Personal Responsibility Agreement
Cooperate with child support Make sure children attend school Ensure children are immunized & get
regular health screens & check-ups Do not abuse drugs or alcohol Obtain parenting skills training Participate in work or work activities
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TWC 10/9/03
1995 State Welfare Law (continued)
2. Mandated work for all adults3. Placed time limits on receipt of benefits
– 1, 2, or 3 years based on person’s education & work history
*implemented through waiver of existing federal law
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TWC 10/9/03
1995 State Welfare Law (continued)
Weak Penalties Not complying with work requirements -
$78 Not cooperating with child support - $78 Not abusing drugs, alcohol - $25 Children not immunized or getting
health screens - $25 5
TWC 10/9/03
1995 State Welfare Law (continued) 1. Welfare Reform
DHS – eligibility only2. Workforce Reform
TWC created by merging 28 programs from 10 agencies
All employment programs Enforce welfare work requirements
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TWC 10/9/03
1996 Federal Welfare Law Created Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) block grant and a new welfare system
Temporary assistance, not an entitlement Lifetime limit of 5 years All adults required to work unless caring for
child under age 1 States must meet increasing work
participation rates or lose 5% of federal block grant
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TWC 10/9/03
Success of Federal Welfare Reform Dramatic Caseload Decline
National 52% Texas 51% New York 50% Wisconsin64% Florida 70%
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TWC 10/9/03
TANF Population
1995 1999 2003
Cases 263,455 124,183 136,840
Adult Recipients
212,788 90,719 87,416
Child Recipients
508,917 247,273 273,680
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TWC 10/9/03
Texas’ success might have been greater if we did not have waiver
Waiver isolated Texas and allowed welfare recipients to delay taking responsibility to support their families
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TWC 10/9/03
Age of Child Exemption Phased down to meet federal law
requirements 12 states have 3-month exemption
after birth of child 6 states have no exemption Texas is only large state with 1 full
year exemption
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TWC 10/9/03
DHS Exemptions from Work
1. Caretaker of child under age one — 4,1652. Caretaker needed in the home to care for
disabled adult—1,8303. Single grandparent age 50 or over and
caretaker of child under age three — 144. Caretaker disabled for more than 180
days — 7,476
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TWC 10/9/03
DHS Exemptions from Work (continued)
5. Caretaker who is unable to work as result of pregnancy — 1,091
6. Caretaker age 60 or older — 234
*State law also exempts caretakers of disabled children —2,387
(August 2003 data)
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TWC 10/9/03
Total Adults on TANF — 86,090
Total Exempted — 17,197 (20%)
(August 2003 data)
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TWC 10/9/03
Two-Parent Family Issue —another blow to family
formation
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TWC 10/9/03
TANF Reauthorization Issues
Maintain current federal block grant Strengthen work requirements
Full engagement – 40 hours/week Promote strong families Give states flexibility Show compassion to truly needy
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TWC 10/9/03
Impact on Texas of TANF Reauthorization
TANF Adults—82,540 TANF Adults Working—44,840 Exempt or Not Engaged in Work—37,700
(based on House-passed version)
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TWC 10/9/03
TWC’s Success in Welfare Reform
Won total of $70 million over 4 consecutive years in TANF High Performance Bonuses for excellence in job placement of TANF adults
New award of $19 million for Family Formation & Stability
Legislature appropriates bonus funds
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TWC 10/9/03
H.B. 2292 – Welfare Reform Strengthens state welfare law Pay for performance model
Like real work environment Paid for work performed
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TWC 10/9/03
TWC’s TANF Choices Employment Services Rule
State & federal law direct TWC to define “engaged in work”
Work First design Taking personal responsibility in order to
obtain & retain work Child attending school Children getting immunized & health check-ups Adults not abusing drugs or alcohol
Penalty for refusal to engage in work is loss of TANF & adult Medicaid benefits 20
TWC 10/9/03
Litigation
CPPP vs. TWC
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TWC 10/9/03
Medicaid Connection Federal welfare law allows states
to terminate — TANF benefits for the entire family Medicaid for the adult
When parents refuse to — Cooperate with child support Engage in work
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TWC 10/9/03
Parents not taking Responsibility Refused to cooperate with child
support – 6,834 adults Refused to meet work
requirements – 23,550 adults
(DHS Mgmt. Focus 7/03)
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TWC 10/9/03
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TWC 10/9/03
Child Care Issues Child care is vital work support Parent responsibility agreement Parent choice is basic tenet What is quality child care?
Safe, healthy nurturing environment?
Or culturally appropriate pictures on the wall? 25
