Benchmark

Assignment A

Ashley M. Carter
SW4710 Fall 2014

Drug-Testing of Welfare Recipients
Since welfare reform in 1996, many states have started to focus on
eliminating the abuse of certain benefits by subjecting recipients to drug-
testing.
They are doing this by passing legislation that requires the recipients of
certain types of benefits to undergo drug-testing.
Recipients who refuse to test, or test positive for drug use, are no longer
eligible to receive certain benefits (Gray, 2014)

Current Policies
Federally, drug testing is permitted for the Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) block grant.
Many States have proposed, or enacted, legislation that requires recipients
of those benefits to undergo drug-testing as a condition of receiving the
benefits.
While some states require all recipients to test, others only require testing if
there is suspicion that the recipient is using drugs (Gray, 2014).
In March of 2014, the Michigan state Senate voted to allow drug testing in
cases where there is suspicion that the recipient is using drugs (Drug
testing, 2014).
Michigan is one of the few states that have enacted similar laws, to apply
the testing requirements to additional benefits through the State, as well as
TANF.
Current Policies (cont.)
History
Similar legislation had been passed in Michigan, but was deemed as
unconstitutional because it required all recipients to be tested, without
any basis of suspicion (Gray, 2014).
In the Michigan Senate, Republican supporters posit that this law will
protect the abuse of benefits, and that ultimately it will protect children
who are being harmed by the misuse of benefits by their drug-using
parents.
Democratic opponents argue that the law is targeting the poor, and
would lead to the increased marginalization of the neediest of our
citizens (Drug testing, 2014).
What is working? What is not?
The State of Florida had enacted a similar policy. Of the 22% of
recipients who were referred for drug testing, only 5% tested positive.
It could be argued that the costs for implementing the law, and
administering the drug tests were more than the money saved by
removing those 5% of recipients from receiving benefits.
It seems as if this creates even more red tape and barriers for our
neediest citizens, and even more paperwork and problems for social
services employees.
This policy raises a lot of questions. Should people who are found to be
using drugs be cut off from resources to help them survive? Or should
they be identified and referred to appropriate programs and resources?
Conclusion
Laws requiring drug-testing to receive some welfare benefits are still
new, so only time will tell how effective these policies will be.
Works Cited
Drug testing for welfare recipients and public assistance. (2014,
August 7). National conference of state legislatures. Retrieved
October 5, 2014, from http://www.ncsl.org/research/human
services/drug-testing-and-public-assistance.aspx
Gray, K. (2014, March 20). Michigan Senate passes bill on drug tests
for welfare recipients. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 5,
2014, from http://www.freep.com/article/20140320/NEWS06
/303200124/Michigan-senate-welfare-drug-testing