The 1996 Welfare Reform: Revisiting a Successful or Failed Endeavor

Abstract

Abstract

When American welfare reform law was enacted in 1996, it was seen as the culmination of decades of struggle between two political ideologies: the conservatives and liberals. Shortly after that, the reforms were widely considered a great success. This paper revisits this welfare reform two decades later. Since this paper intends to examine the performance of the 1996 welfare reform and revaluate its effectiveness by reexamining available data and related studies, the background of the American welfare policies as it relates to the area of poverty to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in 1996 have also been explored and reviewed. Unfortunately, the findings disconfirm the effectiveness of welfare reform in terms of accomplishing its three primary goals: reducing dependence of needy families, decreasing out-of-wedlock pregnancies, and encouraging two-parent families. Even though the welfare reform seems to have excelled in reducing the welfare caseloads, it does not guarantee that the needs of the poor and needy families have been met. Moreover, the effectiveness of TANF for reducing unwed pregnancies and bolstering the formation of two-parent families remains muddled. Finally, this paper suggests some raising issues and considerations for further study.