Determinants of Public Cash Assistance Use among Refugees in California

Abstract

A random sample of case records of refugees applying for public cash assistance in 1984 was selected. Three years later, in 1987, the public cash assistance status of members of this sample was then noted. Overall determinants of being off public cash assistance by 1987 were: being less than 30, single, a secondary migrant to California, on AFDC, referred to the employment services training program, and having previous U.S. work experience and one or more dependents. However, this pattern differed for female and male refugees. Being single and having lived in the United States for some time were much more important determinants for males than females for getting off of public cash assistance. In addition, lack of training and work experience and needing ESL training prevented women rather than men from getting off of public cash assistance.

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