Welfare Reform

The welfare reform law of 1996 mandated work requirements and lifetime time limits on income assistance for poor families with children, administratively separated Medicaid from TANF, and "devolved" considerable autonomy to the states to shape their own policies and programs. While the states were constrained by the broad parameters of the federal legislation (ceilings such as 5-year lifetime limits and work requirements after 2 years), they were free to further restrict benefits and to impose behavioral requirements on recipients through reductions or termination of benefits. Consequently, there are now more than 50 state and county versions of welfare reform.