Cost of Leaving Welfare

Published in The New York Times -- March 5, 2002

To the Editor:

Although the administration's plan to further curtail welfare dependency should be applauded ("Bush Urges Work and Marriage Programs in Welfare Plan," news article, Feb. 27), it continues to overlook the role that financial independence can play in promoting family values.

Many of those who leave welfare for work become less financially secure because benefits begin to phase out at extremely low income levels. Allowing these workers to keep their health insurance, food stamps, housing subsidies and earned income tax credit supplements would encourage them to seek full-time work, take more demanding jobs and have additional family members enter the work force.

Simply pushing worker-recipients into the job market irrespective of the child care functions they may serve at home also undermines family values.

Heather Rubeo
White Plains, NY

The writer is a research associate, Institute for SocioEconomic Studies