Between a Rock and a Hard Place—The Socioeconomic Status of Former TANF Recipients in West Virginia

West Virginia is a rural Appalachian state with a long history of economic disadvantage and poverty. Consequently, state leaders chose to endorse aggressive case closure policies in response to the new demands placed on them by the Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act of 1996. Clearing the rolls was way to contain state costs has serious short-term and long-term financial implications for low income adults and their children in the state. Using data from a 1999 state-wide survey of former West Virginia WORKS recipients, this research examines the socioeconomic well-being of needy parents approximately one year after leaving the system. It is clear from these analyses that former welfare recipients are not all equally likely to improve their financial status and move toward self-sufficiency.