The dynamics of disconnection for low - income mothers Who is disconnected ?

The second article, by Maria Cancian, Eunhee Han, and Jennifer L. Noyes from IRP, draws on data from Wisconsin to look in detail at participation in and disconnection from a number of public sources of support other than TANF cash assistance. The authors’ primary definition of disconnection is no program participation (defined as TANF, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP], subsidized child care, Medicaid, SSI, Social Security Disability Insurance [SSDI], and unemployment insurance benefits), child support receipt, or earnings one year after entering the study; they also use four alternative definitions. They compare outcomes across three populations, including some who have never received TANF cash assistance. By examining three distinct cohorts, one of which participated during the recent economic downturn, the authors provide evidence on changes over time in participation and disconnection.