Journal of Sociology and Social Work

Intergenerational Welfare Use among Immigrants: Myth of Culture of Poverty and Welfare Dependency
Tyrone C. Cheng, LCSW; Celia C.Lo

Abstract
Secondary data and logistic regression were used to analyze risk factors in welfare use by immigrant parents and, over time, their adult children. The data described 2,087 parent–child pairs and came from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study. Results showed a link between parent’s receipt of factors: current Medicaid and food stamps use; receipt of nongovernmental aid on arrival in the United States; low income; unemployed status; unmarried status; minority ethnicity other than Black. Results for the adult children of the studied immigrants showed the children’s use of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to be associated with low income, unemployed status, number of dependent children, and White race/ethnicity. It was not associated with parental factors, including parent’s welfare use. Parents’ and children’s welfare use were not associated with citizenship status and length of residence in U.S. This study concluded that restrictive policies against immigrants’ TANF receipt should be re-evaluated.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jssw.v5n2a2