Because the state does not track those who leave welfare, it is difficult to know if they have moved on to other taxpayer-funded programs. But social service advocates say the other programs' growth ...

Many welfare programs give greater benefits to unmarried individuals than to a married couple of otherwise identical income. The resulting marriage penalty discourages marriage and rewards single ...

The gap between the number of eligible Americans and those who actually receive public assistance benefits often comes down to the administrative burdens posed by state and federal bureaucracies.

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 fundamentally changed the nation's social welfare system, replacing a federal entitlement program for low-income ...