The Path to Employment for Individuals with Disabilities in the Welfare System

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2001

Publication Title

Journal of Poverty

Abstract

Welfare reform has changed the landscape of social protection for individuals on the margins of economic independence. Re-forms require individuals to develop marketable skills and acceptable work behaviors and to move along a path to employment. For individuals with disabilities in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) system, substantial barriers and insufficient transitional supports can impede this path. The current study examined the impact of welfare reform on individuals with disabilities in the TANF system. This report summarizes the experiences of eleven individuals with disabilities receiving welfare benefits in Massachusetts and Wisconsin. Study findings trace a path from welfare to work, describe variations along this path for individuals with disabilities, and consider a range of supports necessary to address barriers. Implications for policy and practice are offered.

Comments

copyright 2001 by The Haworth Press

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