| One of a series of MDRC studies to examine the groundbreaking Wisconsin Works
(W-2) welfare-to-work program, this paper focuses on one of the most intriguing
- and controversial - features of the post-1996 welfare reform environment: What
happens when welfare clients reach statutory time limits on program eligibility?
Concentrating on welfare caseloads administered in Milwaukee County, the report
found that only a small minority of program participants reached the 24-month
limit set by law for aspects of W-2, and that for those who do file extension
requests most are approved. But behind this finding are others: Agencies must
routinely review the handling of cases well before the 24-month limit and
procedures for resolving time-limit extension filings are time-consuming because
they require intensive assessment of client participation in program activities
and extensive documentation of medical conditions on which most time-limit
extensions are requested. |