Welfare rolls have fallen 18 percent in the past year as Ohio’s economy improves and the state steps up efforts to enforce federal requirements that those receiving a monthly assistance check are working or training for a job.
Failing to meet job and work-training requirements is now the No.1 reason for welfare recipients leaving the rolls.
State officials are clamping down to keep federal regulators at bay and avoid millions in fines.
Ohio will lose $130 million in welfare funding unless by Sept. 30 at least half of adults on welfare are working, participating in job training or looking for employment.
“If we are fined the whole $130 million, it would jeopardize the entire program,” said Benjamin Johnson, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
“We’re not out to sanction anybody, but this is federal law, and Ohio Works First participants have to be engaged in work activities.”
Advocates for the poor understand the requirement, but many say the expectations are unreachable for families that don’t have reliable transportation and face other hurdles. In recent years, county human services agencies have lost millions in funding, causing them to cut job-training and work-support programs such as aid for gas and car repairs to help low-income families get to job and training sites.
Click here to read more of this story.
About Marion Online News
