Welfare Retrenchment under the Reagan Administration (1981–1989)

1. Reagan budget outlines major domestic spending cuts

   Mar 10, 1981Labels: Reagan administration, FY1982 budget

   • UPI Archives

2. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 signed

   Aug 13, 1981Labels: Omnibus Budget, Congress 1981

   • SSA History
   • OBRA 1981

3. Mental health funding shifted toward state block grants

   Aug 13, 1981Labels: Mental Health, state block

   • Congress gov
   • MHSA

4. OBRA-driven program changes take effect for FY1982

   Oct 1, 1981Labels: FY1982 implementation, OBRA program

   • Washington Post

5. Congress passes TEFRA amid deficit concerns

   Sep 3, 1982Labels: TEFRA, Congress 1982

   • Congress gov
   • TEFRA

6. Social Security Amendments of 1983 enacted

   Apr 20, 1983Labels: Social Security, Congress 1983

   • SSA P L
   • SSA History

7. DEFRA signed; AFDC eligibility rules tightened

   Jul 18, 1984Labels: Deficit Reduction, AFDC rules

   • ACF Guidance
   • DEFRA

8. Income and Eligibility Verification System mandated

   Jul 18, 1984Labels: Income Verification, Social Security

   • DOLE UIPL
   • ACF Guidance

9. Reagan proposes further Medicaid cost containment

   Dec 22, 1984Labels: Medicaid cost, Reagan proposals

   • Washington Post

10. COBRA expands continuation coverage amid cutbacks

    Apr 7, 1986Labels: COBRA, Consolidated Omnibus

    • Congress gov
    • DOL COBRA

11. Family Support Act of 1988 creates JOBS program

    Oct 13, 1988Labels: Family Support, JOBS program

    • Cornell LII
    • JOBS Program

12. Reagan-era retrenchment transitions into 1989 policy agenda

    Jan 20, 1989Labels: Reagan legacy, welfare retrenchment

    • SSA History
    • ACF Guidance