United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2000-12-29 monographic deposited born digital 62 p. GA 1.13:GAO-01-181 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-181 P0b002ee1803a0977 f:d01181 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-181 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-181 GAO-01-181 Unemployment insurance Social security benefits State-administered programs Eligibility criteria Disadvantaged persons Unemployment Insurance Program Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program Letter Report The welfare and unemployment insurance (UI) programs have been part of the nation's social safety net since 1935. The welfare program provides cash assistance to needy families without means of support, while UI provides cash assistance to people temporarily unemployed. In 1996, welfare reform put time limits on how long most people can receive cash assistance and generally required recipients to engage in work activities to qualify for income support. Since then, the welfare rolls have dropped dramatically as large numbers of welfare recipients have started working, many in low-income jobs. With this shift, the UI program has become a more significant part of the social security net. GAO examined the use of the UI program by low-wage and unemployed workers. GAO found that low-wage workers are less likely to receive UI benefits than other unemployed workers even though they are twice as likely to be unemployed. Low-wage workers are less likely to receive UI benefits because of (1) their tendency to quit work voluntarily, (2) restrictive state eligibility requirements, and (3) their lack of union memberships. Several UI reform proposals to expand the availability of UI benefits to these workers are being discussed by the Advisory Council on Unemployment Compensation. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-181/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-181.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-181/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-181.pdf GAO-01-181 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-181 Letter Report GAO-01-181; Unemployment Insurance: Role as Safety Net for Low-Wage; Unemployment insurance Social security benefits State-administered programs Eligibility criteria Disadvantaged persons Unemployment Insurance Program Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program