Who Will Be Affected by Welfare Reform in California?

This volume provides a comprehensive profile of welfare use in California. The authors examine the changes imposed by the 1996 federal reform legislation, identify and describe those who receive public assistance in California and the extent to which they rely on such assistance, and explore how those who will be most seriously affected by the reforms differ from other welfare recipients and the working poor. This is the first time this type of analysis has been undertaken for California. It has two unique features. First, it uses families and family income to develop a picture that more truly reflects the economic situation of welfare recipients. Second, it considers the total income a family may be receiving from different welfare programs and in periods on and off welfare.