The Welfare Reform Act of 1996

The Welfare Reform Act of 1996 was a U.S. law that changed how the government provides aid to low-income individuals and families. Its main goals were to encourage work and reduce dependency on government assistance. It introduced time limits on benefits, promoted employment-focused programs, and imposed stricter rules for receiving aid like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The law aimed to foster self-sufficiency by requiring recipients to find work or participate in job training, while also providing states more control over how they run welfare programs.