This document discusses workfare, a policy that requires able-bodied individuals to work in order to receive public assistance benefits. It provides background on workfare, listing states that have implemented such policies. Both perceived benefits and criticisms of workfare are outlined, drawing from various sources. While workfare aims to decrease welfare rolls and encourage self-sufficiency, studies show most participants continue to live in poverty even while working in low-wage jobs through such programs. The limited success of workfare is debated.

1. Ryan Brehmer
Ottawa University

2.  A system in which a person must be in the labor
force to get any public assistance or benefits
 The Free Dictionary.com (2016) defined workfare as,
“A form of welfare in which capable adults are required to
perform work, often in public-
service jobs, as a condition of receiving aid” (def. 1).

3.  Iowa
 Minnesota
 Nebraska
 New Hampshire
 North Dakota
 Oklahoma
 South Dakota
 Vermont
 Virginia
 Wyoming
 Kansas
 Oklahoma
 Utah
 Ohio
 New York
 Texas
 Wisconsin
 Maine
 New Mexico
 Pennsylvania

4.  Gets people working
 Decreases government spending on
entitlements
 Frees aid for those who might need it more
• Bevans (2016) stated, “While those against the work
requirements point to the amount of people who will
lose government assistance, proponents of the
program argue that this is exactly the intention – so
that assistance money remains available for those
most in need” (para. 8).
 Creates Self Worth and a Sense of Purpose

5. Eases welfare fraud issues
Decreases Poverty
Decreases Unemployment
Creates Self- Sufficiency
Decreases Health and Human Services
Case Load
• Saves government more money

6. Adds to Poverty
• Requires child care
• Requires transportation
• Adults out of the home
Takes advantage of the poor
• Provides low paying jobs that no one else wants
More Government Control by Big Business

7.  Recipients of state aid get back into work
force
 Increase employability
 Decrease dependence on government
 Wisconsin Department of Health Services
(2015) stated, “The primary goal of workfare
is to improve employability and encourage
individuals to move into regular employment
while returning something of value to the
community” (p. 4).

8.  If offered a job that you are able bodied to do,
you need to do it
 Mixed results of success and failure
• People were working but in low paying jobs
 Not earning enough to be self sufficient
 Wisconsin did report a significant decline in
caseload in regards to those on welfare
benefits initially
 A work in progress
• Criticized by many
• Championed by the authors

9. Poverty levels have not really changed
Jobs do not meet financial requirements
• Low paying
• Part time
• Some are degrading
• Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
(2006) reported, “In 2003, 54% of the individuals
who left W-2 in 2002 were employed, earning an
average of $3,428 per quarter” (p. 21).

10. Wisconsin Department of Workforce
Development (2006) reported, “In 2003,
about half of all former W-2 participants
with earnings had income (including work
supports) above the federal poverty level”
(p. 21).

11. Bowman (2012), reported, “Workfare's
supporters point to Wisconsin's "Wisconsin
Works" program, which did reduce long-
term unemployment when it was
introduced in the 1990s” (para. 8).
Limited success during economic valleys

12. Data is sketchy
• Some Reports Indicate Lower Unemployment
rates
 Generally when people are in the program working and
off the welfare books
• Some Reports Indicate Higher Unemployment
rates
 Generally after someone leaves a workfare job for one
reason or another

13. Limited success
• Workfairness (n.d.) reported, “Only 1 out of 6
families who left welfare by September 1996
earned
more than poverty-level wages by the year's
end. By March 1997, that
figure had dropped to 1 out of 12” (para. 4).

14. Limited Success
• Depends on What Is Considered Success
Wisconsin Works Has Cut the Number of
People on Public Assistance
• This can be seen a success
Jones (2003), reported, “Welfare reform in
Wisconsin has dramatically cut public
assistance roles” (para. 1).

15. However, It Does Not Appear to Be
Helping Poverty, Unemployment, or Self
Sufficiency
• Jones (2003), reported, “The study of Wisconsin
Works, or W-2, said that people who enrolled in
the workfare program in Milwaukee County
continued to suffer from homelessness,
depression and other personal
and economic hardships, despite an increase in
income and additional cash assistance” (para. 2).

16. Workfare Seems Great on Paper
• Getting people to work
• Getting people off of government assistance
Limited Success
• People may only work for a short time
• People may need more assistance to get to work
There are Some Good Points to Consider
• Teaching people to become more self-sufficient
• Can boost self-esteem and self worth

17.  Bevans, S. (2016). Here Are the States That
Now Have Work Requirements for
Food Stamp Recipients. Retrieved
from http://ijr.com/2015/11/468478-
here-are-the-states-that-now-have-
work-requirements-for-food-stamp-
recipients/
 Bowman, S. (2012), February 17). Beware
Workfare. Retrieved from
http://www.adamsmith.org/blog/welfar e-
pensions/beware-workfare

18.  Jones, T. (2003, September 30). Welfare
reform fails to end poverty, study says.
Retrieved from
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/20 03-
09- 30/news/0309300209_1_wisconsin-
works-welfare-reform-cash-assistance
 Workfare. (2016). Found in
TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved from
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/workf
are

19.  Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
(2015). FoodShare Wisconsin
Employment and Training (FSET)
Handbook Users. Retrieved from
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/foods
hare/fsetcover15-02.pdf
 Wisconsin Department of Workforce
Development. (2006). Wisconsin Works
Chart 1998-2003 Overview. Retrieved from
http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/w2/pdf/w2_ch
artbook.pdf

20. Workfairness. (n.d.). Wisconsin Welfare-
toWork Program Brings Poverty, Not
Jobs. Retrieved from
http://iacenter.org/wisc.htm