Welfare Caseloads Up In Most States Since September: Impact of Recession and September 11 Seen; Caseloads Also Up Throughout 2001

3/20/2002

From: John Hutchins of the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), 202-906-8013, jhutchins@clasp.org

WASHINGTON, March 20 -- Welfare caseloads increased between September and December 2001 in 40 states and the District of Columbia, according to new data compiled by Elise Richer, Vani Sankarapandian, and Mark H. Greenberg of the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) in Washington, D.C. These caseload increases have been fairly large, rising over 4 percent in one quarter on average among the 40 states showing an increase.

CLASP gathered the welfare caseload information from 49 states and the District of Columbia. It is the most current data available. Among the other findings from the CLASP study:

-- For the first time since TANF was implemented, the average annual change in states' caseloads was an increase. From December 2000 to December 2001, the average change in the caseloads of the 49 states and the District of Columbia was a 3.8 percent increase. In contrast, the average change among all 50 states from December 1999 to December 2000 was a 6.5 percent decrease.

-- Over the entire past year, 33 states and the District of Columbia had caseload increases, and 16 had decreases. In contrast, from December 1999 to December 2000, nine states had increases, and 42 had decreases.

-- A dozen states have shown continuous caseload growth in recent months. Twelve states show continually increasing caseloads between July and December 2001 (Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Texas).

-- A number of states experienced substantial caseload growth in the past year. The states with the largest caseload increases in 2001 were Nevada (69 percent), Indiana (27 percent), Montana (20 percent), South Carolina (19 percent), and Arizona (18 percent).

To view state-by-state data and an analysis, visit: http://www.clasp.org/. To set up an interview with one of the study authors, contact John Hutchins, Communications Director, 202-906-8013, jhutchins@clasp.org.

------ A national, nonprofit organization founded in 1968, CLASP conducts research, policy analysis, technical assistance, and advocacy on issues related to economic security of low-income families with children.