Table 1.
Description of incentive-based, antipoverty programs that used wage supplements or conditional cash transfers to promote education and employment among welfare recipients and other low-income adults.
| Program | Location | Sample Size | Population | Duration | Incentive System |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs First | CT | 4,803 | Single-parent families applying for or receiving welfare |
4 years (1996–2000) |
Participants who obtained employment could receive: 1) a time-limited (21 months) earned income disregard, which removed all earned income from cash welfare calculations; 2) six-month extensions could be granted to those who made efforts to find jobs but were unsuccessful |
| Minnesota Family Investment Program |
MN | 14,639 | Single- or two- parent families applying for or receiving welfare |
4 years (1994–1998) |
Participants who obtained employment could receive: 1) a 20% increase in welfare assistance; 2) earned income disregard, in which 38% of earnings were disregarded in calculating welfare assistance |
| New Hope | WI | 1,362 | Adult welfare recipients |
4 years (1994–1998) |
1) About $120 to $130 every month for working ≥ 30 hours per week; 2) time-limited (12 months) minimum-wage community-service jobs if participants could not find a job after 8 weeks, recently lost a job and could not find work after 3 weeks, or were working part-time |
| Employment Retention and Advancement |
TX | 5,331 | Single-parent families applying for or receiving welfare |
4 years (2000–2004) |
Participants who obtained employment could receive: 1) a 4-month earned income disregard, in which 90% of earnings were disregarded in calculating welfare assistance; 2) $200 every month for working ≥ 30 hours per week and participating in a monthly employment “advancement” activity OR $200 every month for working ≥ 15 hours per week and attending education and training activities for ≥ 15 hours per week |
| Opportunity NYC - Family Rewards |
NY | 4,800 | Low-income families |
3 years (2007–2010) |
1) $300 every 2 months for working ≥ 30 hours per week for 6 out of 8 weeks; 2) $300 to $600 every 2 months for completing an approved education or job- skills training course (payment amount was based on the length of the course) |
| Opportunity NYC - Family Rewards 2.0 |
TN, NY | 2,400 | Low-income families |
3 years (2011–2014) |
1) $150 every month for working ≥ 120 hours per month; 2) $400 for obtaining a GED |