The Effects of Welfare Reform on the Well­Being of Single Mothers

"The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 changed the face of welfare by imposing time limits, work requirements, and stricter eligibility controls. While many studies show that it has been successful in reducing welfare caseloads and increasing the number of women who work, little research has been done to determine the effects on women who were the worst­off prior to reform. This research aims to determine how single mothers who face the most financial hardships have fared in the post­reform period. The Capstone team also investigated the impact of state­level variation in the strictness of post­welfare reform policies. "