Getting On, Staying On, and Getting Off Welfare: The Complexity of State-by-State Policy Choices

July 2006 Getting On, Staying On & Getting Off Welfare: The Complexity of State-by-State Policy Choices The diversity in state policies for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) varies. The researchers used the Urban Institute's Welfare Rules Database to compare state program variation and look at how the differences affected state work participation percentages in 2003. Details are offered on how each state defined its TANF program as of 2003 and how the variations affected families' TANF eligibility, work participation rates, and ability to successfully exit the programs . . .