Project Description
The evaluation of the Paycheck Plus Expanded Earned Income Tax Demonstration sought to determine the effect of a wage supplement to encourage work and increase earnings among low-income workers as young as 21 and without dependent children.
During the 30-month period between random assignment and data collection, DIR contacted participants by mail, phone, and email. Follow-up surveys were administered in both English and Spanish in five boroughs of the New York City area. A mixture of telephone, in-person, electronic outreach, and other interviewing strategies were used to maximize the response rate from a sample of six monthly enrollment cohorts. A progressive incentive strategy was used for the last group of completers within each cohort.
DIR collected follow-up data under subcontract to MDRC. The Paycheck Plus evaluation was funded by New York City’s Center for Economic Opportunity and the Robin Hood Foundation.