Duration of income support program participation in New Brunswick
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Date
2013
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Publisher
University of New Brunswick
Abstract
This quantitative study uses Provincial administrative data from the Department
of Social Development's database "NB Case" to profile the duration of income support
program participation by non-disabled clients in New Brunswick, Canada. A sample of
adults participating in the Transitional Assistance Program as of April 2012 is matched to
monthly NB Case administrative data snapshots back to May 2005 and forward to
September 2012 to reveal study participants' completed episodes on income support
over the course of seven years. The longest completed episode for each participant is
selected and analyzed. Variables depicting characteristics from the individuals, the
household and the socio-economic environment are considered.
This study supports significant effects on duration for seven of the twelve
hypotheses. Low education levels, low employment rates, the existence of health
issues, the presence and number of children, the occurrence of cycling on and off
income support, benefiting from a formal housing subsidy as well as not earning wages
while on social assistance all work to increase time spent on welfare. Partial
confirmation is obtained for three hypotheses: a teenaged experience of parental SA
use increases duration while owning a vehicle decreases duration in certain models.
Older age increases duration for males only. The effects of being a multi-adult
household or living in an urban area are insignificant in the context of this study.
A comprehensive set of programs designed to mitigate non-economic barriers to
work must compliment policy interventic:ms aimed at full-time labour market
participation.