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Canton
Repository...
Ohio
changes welfare program to avoid
federal fine
September 30, 2011
COLUMBUS
— Ohio is changing its
welfare program to avoid $136 million in federal fines after missing
benchmarks
for how many participants are working or pursuing employment.
The
fines were levied for Ohio’s
failure to meet a requirement that at least half of families drawing
benefits
were employed or seeking work.
Ohio
has missed that mark since 2007,
and fines have not yet been assessed for 2010. Gov. John Kasich ordered
the
changes — which are designed to put Ohio back in compliance with the
federal
mandate — Monday, ahead of a Thursday deadline.
If
Ohio stays in compliance, it will
not have to pay the millions in fines.
The
changes include a separate Ohio-run
welfare program using state funds.
“The
Ohio Works Now program will
provide a small additional TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families
welfare program) benefit of $10 per month to working families with
children,”
Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services spokesman Ben Johnson said.
The
extra benefit would be in place
for one year, cost the state $7 million and count the families
receiving it in
Ohio’s work participation pool. Working families who have fallen on
hard times,
but are still working, qualify, Johnson said.
People
receiving welfare will now also
be required to complete a self-sufficiency assessment — which measures
things
like skills in job-related activities and previous employment — before
receiving their first check. Previously, the assessment was taken after
benefits had started.
That
will help counties better find
work for people drawing money from the state, Johnson said.
A
number of other technical changes
were made to help the state better keep track of people who are
receiving
benefits, but not working, in order to help them find jobs, he said.
“It
is federal law, but it is larger
than that. The program is designed to get people back to work and
become
self-sufficient,” Johnson said.
Read
it at the Canton Repository
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