Welfare reform's emphasis on employment and declining caseloads diverts attention from the lack of success experienced by formerly welfare reliant families who participate in paid work. Using data from the 1997 and 1999 National Survey of American Families, this article investigates the effects of participation in paid work for low-income single-parent female-headed families on three important aspects of family well-being: (1) the ability to pay for rent and utilities, (2) postponing needed medical care, and (3) food hardship. Results indicate that full-time employment does not “pay off” for families who have been off welfare for two or more years when compared to families who have never relied on welfare. These findings suggest that policy makers should pay greater attention to structural conditions and expand work supports in constructing welfare policies that work for all low-income families.
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