“welfare reform,” were time limits on the receipt of
welfare benefits, work requirements as a condition of
receiving welfare, and sanctions for non-compliance
with program rules. PRWORA also strengthened child
support enforcement and made it easier for married and
cohabiting couples to qualify for welfare benefits. These
sweeping changes ushered in a new “work first” era that
de-emphasized education for adult women. The PRWORA
legislation granted considerable discretion to states in
establishing welfare eligibility and program rules. As a
result, there is substantial state policy variation within the
broad national regime of time-limited cash assistance for
which work is required.