Concurrent Participation in Federally-Funded Welfare Programs and Empowerment Toward Economic Self-Sufficiency. Issue 45 (27th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Joseph, Rigaud; Potocky, Miriam; Girard, Chris; Stuart, Paul; Thomlison, Barbara
• Is Part Of: Journal of social service research. Issue 45:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 319
• Page End: 335
• Publication Date: 2019-05-27
• Subjects: Concurrent program participation -- economic self-sufficiency -- survey of income and program participation -- quasi-experimental design -- empowerment; Social service -- Research -- Periodicals; Social service -- Periodicals; 361.305
• DOI: 10.1080/01488376.2018.1480558
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0148-8376

Abstract

Abstract: This research examined the impact of participation in federal means-tested welfare programs on the attainment and maintenance of economic self-sufficiency. Using the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), this quasi-experimental investigation compartmentalized 4216 low-income households into an intervention group ( n = 2436) and a comparison group ( n = 1780). Households in the intervention group received one or more welfare benefits for the most part of the 2008–2013 quinquennium. By contrast, those in the comparison group – although eligible for these benefits – did not receive them. The survey respondents were measured repeatedly over a 56-month period to assess whether welfare receipt impacts their household income steadily beyond 150% of the federal poverty level, after controlling for known predictors. Multivariate analyses displayed medium effect sizes indicating that participation in public assistance did decrease the likelihood of economic self-sufficiency. Macro-implications of these findings for poverty and social welfare stakeholders were discussed.