State Social Welfare Economics - Page A4

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February 12, 1997

Social Welfare Study Shows California Data

by Staff Writers, The Daily Republican newspaper

SACRAMENTO DESK - The Public Policy Institute of California published a report today on the state of welfate in California. The Report said there ate more than 400,000 families in California who rely almost exclusively on social welfare assistance. Many may be undertating outside earnings.

The findings in the Report reveal that about thirty-three percent of the families in the state are obtaining government aid. The Report suggests that California welfare recipients may have been working while receiving family benefitys for food stamps, housing, transportastin and medical care.

The State Department of Social Wekfare admits that some AFDC recipients worked while receiving aid. Census data indicates that welfare families worked 31% of the months they were on also in assistance.

It is believed that some recipients are not reporting their outside income to the state. Other findings in the Report include:  

• Number of Families in California: 13.1 million      
• Families Receiving Welfare: 2.75 million (21%)      
• Highly Dependent on Welfare*: 445,000 (3%)      
• Most Likely to Be Highly Dependent: Women who were teenage mothers (almost 50%)      
• Teenage Mothers Who Become Highly Dependent: 1 in 10      
• High School Dropouts Who Receive Welfare: 17%      
• Proportion of That 17% Who Become Highly Dependent: Less than half      
• Highly Dependent Families With Married Parents: 1 in 4

           

Source: Public Policy Institute of California, Pa;o Alto