The welfare reform bill adopted in the United States in 1996 limited immigrants' eligibility for government assistance programs. In fact, early estimates projected that nearly half of the savings associated with the 1996 reforms would come from eligibility restrictions placed on immigrants....

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The central theme of welfare reform is the requirement that welfare recipients engage in work activities. In many states this requirement applies even to mothers whose children are just a few months old. Holding a job increases the costs of breastfeeding, which in turn could reduce the...

Over the past 35 years the gap in poverty between divorced and married women increased from 2:1 (in 1967) to 4:1 (in 2001). Despite high poverty rates, divorced women are no less educated than married women. Labor market earnings are a particularly important source of income for elderly divorced...

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides a monthly benefit to low-income families to help ensure an adequate and nutritious diet, has grown rapidly in recent years—by 50 percent in the seven years between 2000 and 2007 and by another 50 percent in the four years...

California’s welfare program—the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program—provides cash assistance to needy families while helping them gain self-sufficiency. Toward this end, most adults receiving CalWORKs are required to work; they may also...

California’s welfare program—the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program—provides cash assistance to needy families while helping them gain self-sufficiency. Toward this end, most adults receiving CalWORKs are required to work; they may also...