| This study seeks to determine if former Tennessee welfare recipients with some higher education were more likely to live above the U.S. Poverty Threshold and the low-income threshold than former recipients with only a high school diploma or GED. This study examined the impact of higher education and former welfare recipients from Tennessee in relation to their gains towards financial self-sufficiency since leaving welfare assistance for at least one year.; Two groups, former recipients with some higher education and former recipients with only a high school diploma or GED were compared. The study measured first the "holistic view" of poverty, which was defined as recipients' ability to obtain a job with benefits that also provided an adequate income. Secondly, this study contrasted former recipients' income with U.S. Poverty Threshold, and finally this study examined former recipients' income with respect to the low-income threshold.; Chi-square tests of homogeneity, independent: sample t-test, and a Mann-Whitney U test were used to examine the variables in this study. The variables included (1) job-attainment, (2) access to job-related benefits, (3) income, (4) poverty threshold, and (5) low-income threshold.; This study found there was a statistically significant difference in job-attainment; former recipients with some higher education were more likely to be employed and earn nearly 25% more in income. This study found a statistically significant difference in access to job related benefits. Furthermore, those with some higher education were more likely to have access to job-related benefits. There was a significant difference between both groups' ability to live above the U.S. Poverty Threshold. Former recipients with some higher education were 25% less likely to live in poverty and 10% more likely to live above the low-income threshold. |
