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N.C. changes welfare requirements

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Comments (19)

Friday, October 23, 2009

(Updated 10:13 am)

By
Associated Press

RALEIGH (AP) — North Carolina's Work First welfare program will begin requiring adults to work before they receive monthly benefit checks.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported today that starting this month, all adults in the program will be required to provide proof that they're working, going to school or job hunting before they receive a check. Previously, recipients in many counties got checks whether or not they met requirements.

The Department of Health and Human Services Web site states that nearly 11,000 adults in the state participate in Work First.

Officials say recipients will still receive money if they can demonstrate that child care or illness prevented them meeting obligations.

The changes were made after the federal government threatened to slash funding if the state didn't make improvements.

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muss

October 23, 2009 - 10:37 am EDT

As a Liberal or Progressive I am proud to say this can be an easily attainable bipartisan goal. I remember when President Clinton first brought this idea to the front in Welfare reform. What a great idea.
The only jobs taken would be the jobs that these people would work at anyway.
This could even be accomplished by having the recipients work in community gardens or community clean up or working at Habitat for Humanity, in addition to private sector jobs.
People get ready! Good programs are thought of and acted upon. Lets all get behind good ideas and quit the hatred being spread by partisanship.

countryboy

October 23, 2009 - 12:17 pm EDT

Actually, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development began piloting workfare programs in 1987, long before Clinton was on the national scene. As a conservative (or right wing nut job...whichever you prefer) I will give Clinton credit for bringing it to the federal level. But here is a curious dilemma...when progressives (or libs) find out that this is actually a scriptural (biblical) initiative [the man who is not willing to work is not worthy to eat], will they abandon it on seperation issues? Calm down...just a little light hearted humor.

PS...in regards to the recent N&R column , it would be interesting to see if the new dayshelter being proposed in Greensboro will be maintained and cleaned by the beneficiaries or will management contract for that work. How is that done at Urban Ministries. Seems like labor in return for shelter and food is a good trade, a "self-esteem" builder (if you believe in such) and an excellent resume builder.

Beachwalk

October 23, 2009 - 11:08 am EDT

Government should REQUIRE drug testing to get welfare. As someone else mentioned this morning on another thread, I have to provide a urine sample for drug testing in order to work. Why shouldn't those who receive welfare be required to do the same. Those of us who are working provide their welfare checks through our tax money. Why should our tax money be use for them to buy drugs. Drug testing would not totally prevent this, but it sure wouldn't hurt.

kurts12gauge

October 23, 2009 - 11:11 am EDT

Just another racist law enacted by a white dominated government. Business as usual I suppose

CitizenK

October 23, 2009 - 12:04 pm EDT

Liberals like you are nothing but sex and race bating slave traders.

countryboy

October 23, 2009 - 12:05 pm EDT

????????????????????????

blackstream

October 23, 2009 - 12:18 pm EDT

Yep, it's all about race! What a freaking idiot! Anytime something doesn't please the general black community, it's always about race. It's no wonder racism won't die. It's always thrown up in our faces. A black person gets arrested for committing a crime, it's because they're black. Not because he actually did something. Not only should welfare recipients be required to activily look for work, but they should be required to take a mandatory drug test once a month before the check is issued. It's time, whether your black, white, pink or purple, to get off your lazy, sorry butts and earn your own way. The rest of us are tired of supporting your lazy butt so you can sit around smoking dope and spitting out kids for the system to take care of because you're too sorry to work. Next time you bring up racism, make sure that it is truly that. Sometimes, it's just the fact that you're suppose to be human and not about the color of your skin!

kurts12gauge

October 23, 2009 - 6:51 pm EDT

How nice of you to show everyone here your racism. Fact is, it is getting harder and harder for African Americans to succeed in this country. And where is the govt helping us out? Nowhere to found!

blackstream

October 23, 2009 - 9:59 pm EDT

You're calling me racist? I'm not the one wanting the government to give me a free ride. It's harder for a black man to get ahead? I think the fact you now have a black man for president (and yes, I voted for him) says alot. Do you want to know how he got there? He got there by getting an eduaction, something many kids of any race, refuse to do these days. Racism is just an excuse for people like you. If you try hard enough, you'll get ahead. Quit spending all of your time whining about how you are being suppressed and get off your butt and do something. As a black man, you have better opportunity than I do as a white male. Does affirmative action mean anything to you? It does me. It means a lesser qualified person can get the same job I'm looking to get solely based on their skin color. The government will give you loans to start and operate a business while I have to kill myself to accomplish the same thing. By the way, you're not an African American unless you and your family just immigrated here. You're an American just like the rest of us born on this piece of land. Your problem is you want a free handout instead of getting off your lazy behind and doing something for yourself. Welfare was started to help people get back on their feet, not to be a way of making a living. I don't believe in political correctness, nor do I care about your "feelings". If the truth hurts, then I have accomplished what I set out to do. It's easy to pull out that race card... it's harder to just accept the fact it might just be you and not the color of your skin!

kurts12gauge

October 23, 2009 - 10:58 pm EDT

Easier for a black man to succeed than a white man? Have you lost your mind? The racial tone in this country has taken a turn for the worse since Mr Obama got elected. Just look at the criticisms against him; all race based and has nothing to do with policy issues. Now you better go or youll be late for your cross burning

newshound

October 23, 2009 - 12:25 pm EDT

I don't know the background of your race, but you sure are ignorant. Why would you want to protect some women who choose to continue to multiply without taking responsibility for their actions. I see blacks; whites; and others drive up in better and newer model cars to fill up two grocery carts; have another illegitimate baby in their belly; fake nails, eye lashes, all colors of horse hair, and tattoos everywhere from the neck to the feet, and look at me in the grocery line because maybe I unintentionally look disgusted. Too bad I am not in charge because I am in favor of providing daycare, but these people who chose to make these bad decisions need to know what it feels like to have to work everyday, know how it feels to have to clip coupons, know what it feels like to have to put your children's needs before yours. I am not speaking about the truly needy persons, but the women who are just using welfare as a crutch. Let them use that car to go to work or sell them some of the clunkers to get to a job.....no matter where.

KCinWS

October 23, 2009 - 12:47 pm EDT

Just a guess here kurt but did you buy your 12 gauge and computer with a welfare check supplied by the "white dominated government"???????

incredulous1

October 23, 2009 - 11:14 am EDT

It's about time. I'm all for helping people who are down and out, but we all know that some of these people are certainly riding the gravy train. I can't see how recipients could possibly object to providing proof; if you're not bilking the system, you have nothing to be concerned about.
Now if they'd just add mandatory drug testing to the list of requirements (as I assume it is not).

GBO_Yoda

October 23, 2009 - 11:37 am EDT

Yes Yes drug test and sterilize too. Hey Fair is Fair ............. Right :) Amen!

KCinWS

October 23, 2009 - 12:43 pm EDT

This is a great idea I wholeheartedly agree with. Except for the fact that if these people are "working" and receiving pay checks I hope the "welfare" checks are reduced in the same manner as unemployment checks are. My thoughts about the child care though is to train a number of these individuals in the area of child care then designate locations where those having children can drop them off at no charge on the way to work. Of course this could be abused also by people dropping off their children then going shopping etc. To prevent this, paystubs/timecards will have to be inspected each week and anyone abusing the system would then be charged an hourly rate for child care. Let's put everyone in the "work force".

CitizenK

October 23, 2009 - 1:20 pm EDT

Before we can put the current welfare recipients to work we need to put Obama & his socialists minions onto the unemployment lines so the damage they've done to our economy and liberty can begin to be undone. March on Raleigh! November 14th!

CitizenK

October 23, 2009 - 1:24 pm EDT

http://marchonraleigh.org/

Melissa1972

October 23, 2009 - 1:25 pm EDT

I am glad they are requiring applicants to be searching for a job. There are many in my county that just sit at home. We have smartstart to enable childcare to work. I always have worked and i have two children i never received chilksupport or workfirst because i worked. I did use smartstart to help with childcare expenses. Another requirement that all government assistence should think of is drugtesting. If you need assistence you should be able to pass a drug test. That way my tax dollars are not being used to allow these deadbeats to get high all day.

detranov

October 23, 2009 - 7:16 pm EDT

I dont know what you all are talking about, these people work, and they go to school too. Heres how it works. Once A future welfare recipient is born, school begins and the child learns how to abuse the system just like mom did. Also mom teaches A course in racism. Once the child reaches high school age its time to drop out and get knocked up as to prepare for work. Where is the father you say, he only comes around when its time to get knocked up again. Ok now its time to go to work. Get the 6 AM bus to social services, show proof of child. Once all this is done you will receive 1 Welfare Check, 2 Food Stamps, and a nice apt. at Smith Homes all compliments of the taxpayers. After 9 mo repeat as above.