View article

This report previews the Self-Sufficiency Project's (SSP's) longer-term effects by looking at these four related issues: wage progression, job retention, marital status, and attitudes toward work. A companion report, available separately, examines SSP's effects on children. Chapter 1 discusses the SSP research and demonstration project that offered a temporary earnings supplement to selected long-term Income Assistance (IA) recipients in British Columbia and New Brunswick, Canada. Chapter 2 describes impacts of SSP on employment, income, and welfare receipt for about three years. It reports that SSP increased employment, full-time employment, earnings, and cash transfer payments and reduced use of IA and poverty. Chapter 3 discusses impacts of SSP on employment stability, wage growth, marital status, and attitudes. It reports that SSP increased stable full-time employment and generated a fair amount of wage growth; and more members of the program group felt they had greater control