Family Support Act Of 1988

What Does Family Support Act Of 1988 Mean?

The Family Support Act of 1988, signed into law by President Ronald Reagan, aimed to reduce American citizens’ reliance on welfare and encourage benefit recipients to obtain paid employment.

One of its main objectives was to motivate parents on welfare to find work or return to school. To achieve this, the government established a training program for welfare recipients called Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS).

Insuranceopedia Explains Family Support Act Of 1988

The first version of this bill, intended to alleviate poverty, was the Social Security Act of 1935. This law provided financial assistance to the children of low-income single mothers through a program known as Aid to Dependent Children (ADC).

ADC faced criticism from some who argued that it encouraged irresponsible parenthood. The program’s budget also grew significantly over time as eligibility expanded, particularly with the inclusion of Black women in the 1960s. The Family Support Act of 1988 was introduced as a response, aiming to reduce dependency on government assistance by offering educational programs to help individuals escape poverty and enter the workforce.