The Welfare Reform Act refers to legislation passed in the United States in 1996, officially known as the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. This law aimed to reduce dependency on government assistance by promoting work and personal responsibility. It replaced the previous welfare system with a program called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which provided states with block grants to design their own welfare programs. The act introduced several key changes, including time limits on welfare benefits and work requirements for recipients. It also aimed to encourage two-parent families and reduce out-of-wedlock births. Overall, the Welfare Reform Act significantly altered the landscape of social welfare in the U.S.