The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996
(text from the Report of the Re-Entry Policy Council, Policy Statement 24)
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (the 1996 “welfare law”) includes a lifetime ban on eligibility for food stamps and benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program for anyone who receives a felony drug conviction if both the conviction and the underlying conduct occurred after August 22, 1996.[1] No one is exempt, including pregnant women and individuals participating in treatment. Children in the family, however, retain their TANF eligibility. The 1996 welfare law also prohibits states from providing TANF assistance, food stamps, SSI, and public housing to anyone who is in violation of his or her probation or parole. The duration of ineligibility is different for each program. For SSI and food stamps, the ineligibility applies “during such month” and “during any period,” respectively, that the individual has either absconded or is out of compliance with the conditions of release.
Related Benefits:
[1] United States Public Law 104-193. See §115, “Denial of Assistance and Benefits for Certain Drug-Related Convictions,” as amended by §5516 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33). Available at http://access.gpo.gov.