Welfare Policy Research Project

RFP 2000: Employed Former Recipients’ Use of Income Support Programs Questions

1. Statewide, and for each of California’s counties, from 1993 to present, determine the participation rates in the Food Stamp and Medi-Cal programs for those leaving AFDC/CalWORKs with paid employment. Considering the eligibility criteria in place at the time, how many of those who exited AFDC/ CalWORKs with earnings during this time frame were ineligible for food stamps and/or Medi-Cal? Of those who continued to be eligible, how many participated?

2. Looking at these trend data, both pre- and post-implementation of CalWORKs, are there any significant breaks (i.e., increases or decreases) in food stamp and/or Medi-Cal participation rates for those who remained eligible for these benefits after they exited CalWORKs with paid employment? If so, what might explain these breaks? [NOTE: CalWORKs is deemed to have been implemented on January 1, 1998.]

3. Looking at these trend data and administrative records, are there identifiable characteristics that distinguish those who did not use food stamps and/or Medi-Cal, even though they remained income and resource eligible for these benefits after they exited AFDC/CalWORKs monthly cash aid with paid employment? Such characteristics might include, but need not be limited to: family composition, income and education levels, aid history (e.g., cumulative time on aid and number of times on aid), race/ethnicity, immigrant status, or geographic area. How, if at all, do the characteristics of eligible non-users differ from the characteristics of eligible users? Do the characteristics of eligible non-users change over time?

4. How do county agencies inform current and former CalWORKs recipients of the availability of food stamps, Medi-Cal, and EITC benefits? Specifically, what information do counties convey; where and in what manner do they provide this information; when in the process do they provide such information; and how often do they provide such information? In particular, what information do counties provide about all three of these programs to those who are about to exit CalWORKs?

5. For those who remain eligible, are there administrative barriers to use or continued use of food stamps, Medi-Cal, and/or the EITC following recipients’ exits from CalWORKs monthly cash aid with paid employment?

6. What reasons do former CalWORKs recipients – who are working and who remain eligible for food stamps, Medi-Cal, and/or EITC benefits – cite for not participating in these programs? The successful grantee will probe initial answers in an effort to more precisely determine underlying reasons.

7. Of those who exit CalWORKs monthly cash aid with paid employment and who remain eligible for food stamps, Medi-Cal and/or the EITC, are there circumstances and/or socio-demographic characteristics that distinguish those who do use these programs from those who don’t? The successful grantee will augment administrative data with original survey data.

8. What are the programmatic and policy implications of these findings? What recommendations do they suggest?