HHS Approves Idaho as 43rd Welfare Demonstration
HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced approval of "Temporary Assistance for Families," a statewide welfare demonstration project for Idaho approved under the fast-track waiver process. Idaho is the 43rd state, the third fast-track waiver and the 76th welfare demonstration approved under the Clinton Administration.
"As President Clinton prepares to sign historic welfare reform legislation that fulfills his principles of requiring work and promoting parental responsibility, he also continues his commitment to state flexibility," said Secretary Shalala. "This waiver lays a strong foundation for Idaho's new welfare program."
Under Idaho's statewide welfare waiver, adult recipients in the JOBS program will be required to sign a Personal Responsibility Contract which assures job placement and provides necessary education or training and child care. Recipients previously exempt from JOBS, such as parents or other caretakers of a child under one year of age, will no longer be exempt. The state will increase fiscal sanctions for those adult recipients who participate in the program and are fired from a job for good cause, quit a job without good cause, or turn down a bona fide offer of an unsubsidized job.
Idaho will also require that a minor, unmarried parent under the age of 18 and dependent children in his/her care reside in the household of a parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative, or in an adult-supervised living arrangement. The state will also require minor parents to participate in an educational activity or alternative training or work activities. Failure to meet the participation or school attendance requirements will result in a fiscal penalty of $50 per month.
"With this demonstration, Idaho moves closer to ending welfare as we know it," said Mary Jo Bane, assistant secretary for children and families. "Idaho families will now have a new opportunity to achieve self-sufficiency."
Last year, President Clinton initiated the fast-track waiver approval process. States that submit applications, in an easy to complete form, that fulfil any or all of five promising criteria will receive approval within 30 days. States can establish new work requirements with necessary child care, impose time limits followed by jobs for those willing to work, require minor mothers to live at home and stay in school, make parents pay child support or go to work, and use AFDC and Food Stamps as cash subsidies to private employers to hire welfare recipients.
The demonstration project will operate for 5 years, and include a rigorous evaluation.
Under the welfare reform bill passed by Congress, states that have waivers approved prior the law's enactment generally may continue their waivers even when they conflict with the legislation.
Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.
Contact: Michael Kharfen (202) 401-9215
