During the 1990s, the federal government promised low-income families that work would pay. Parents moved into jobs in response to new welfare rules requiring work, tax credits and other work supports that boosted take-home pay. Unfortunately, the record shows that low-income families have not progressed much. Many do not bring home enough to cover the everyday costs of living. This paper describes the work and wages of low-income families, summarizes gaps in current employment and government supports, and synthesizes the policy ideas developed by the researchers who address these national challenges in more depth. (Contains 2 tables, 2 figures, and 6 notes.)