If recipients of such programs are working, the transportation support will not count as assistance and therefore not subject recipients to federal work requirements and time limits. This opportunity is a critical one for many people on and off welfare who often deal with poor public transportation systems, lack of access to jobs, lack of access to work support services like child care or job training, and transportation-related expenses. Contributing to the difficulties in metropolitan regions across the nation are the distances between areas of high job growth and the central cities where many welfare recipients and low-wage workers are concentrated. Documents released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services encourage states to explore various innovative transportation strategies using their TANF and MOE funds. A state could provide transportation subsidies to families based on their level of income.
Transit passes, reimbursements, vouchers or cash payments are all viable options.
In New Mexico, all working families below a certain income level are eligible for transportation aid whether they receive cash welfare benefits or not. A more limited program could be restricted to families on welfare, or those families leacing welfare for work. Virginia has adopted this approach, providing transitional allowances for up to 24 months after families leave welfare. Several communities have created innovative Wheels to Work programs where welfare recipients leaving welfare for work can purchase cars. Generally these programs cover the cost of repairs, inspection and registration, and occasionally leverage low-interest loans for purchasers.