Legislature approves Sater’s welfare reform bill

April 22, 2015
Charlea Mills
Both the House and Senate approved a welfare reform bill this week, sponsored by Cassville’s Senator David Sater. Senate Bill 24 was created to reinstate work requirements as encouragement for self-sufficiency and also allocates funds to aid welfare recipients.
Sen. Sater stated, “As with so many of our social welfare programs, the current TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) program is too often a disincentive to work and fails to provide the structure and path needed for recipients to reach self-sufficiency. We are good neighbors and help one another out, but we also believe in personal responsibility and that a hand up, not a hand out, will lead to success.”
The work requirement requires welfare recipients to participate in the definition of work provided by the 1996 Welfare Reform Act as unsubsidized employment, job searches and community services. For families on TANF, the new life-time limit means that families can only take benefits for 45 months, and they must engage in work requirements before receiving benefits. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently allows for states with a certain unemployment level to have a waiver for the work requirements before receiving benefits. The new bill removes the waiver and reinstates all work requirements for SNAP benefits, as well.
Furthermore, the savings to the state by implementing the new work requirements will be applied to other social programs in the state. Savings from both TANF and SNAP will be used to provide child care assistance for single parents, education assistance, transportation assistance and job training for individuals receiving those benefits.
The need presented for the welfare changes in Missouri are due to Missouri’s repeated low ranking on the Heartland Institute’s scores on welfare reform. Missouri scored an “F” on the 2015 Welfare Reform Report Card: A State-by-State Analysis of Anti-Poverty Performance and Welfare Reform Policies. The Heartland Institute began the grading system after the 1996 Welfare Reform Act was signed by President Bill Clinton to require welfare recipients to engage in work activities.
Sen. Sater stated, “Simply volunteering or providing community service, or participating in a job training program, can fulfill the work requirement and put that person on the path to the success and dignity that comes from providing for yourself and your family. It is not too much to ask for recipients of public assistance to work or give back something for the benefits the taxpayers provide.”
According to data released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Missouri is regularly at the bottom or near the bottom in work participation for welfare benefits. The data states that only around 15 percent of Missouri’s welfare recipients are meeting current work requirements as set out by the Welfare Reform Act of 1996.
Governor Nixon has 15 days to decide whether to sign or veto SB 24. If the bill receives a veto, the General Assembly has the opportunity to override his decision at the end of the legislative session.
Charlea Mills
Both the House and Senate approved a welfare reform bill this week, sponsored by Cassville’s Senator David Sater. Senate Bill 24 was created to reinstate work requirements as encouragement for self-sufficiency and also allocates funds to aid welfare recipients.
Sen. Sater stated, “As with so many of our social welfare programs, the current TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) program is too often a disincentive to work and fails to provide the structure and path needed for recipients to reach self-sufficiency. We are good neighbors and help one another out, but we also believe in personal responsibility and that a hand up, not a hand out, will lead to success.”
The work requirement requires welfare recipients to participate in the definition of work provided by the 1996 Welfare Reform Act as unsubsidized employment, job searches and community services. For families on TANF, the new life-time limit means that families can only take benefits for 45 months, and they must engage in work requirements before receiving benefits. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently allows for states with a certain unemployment level to have a waiver for the work requirements before receiving benefits. The new bill removes the waiver and reinstates all work requirements for SNAP benefits, as well.
Furthermore, the savings to the state by implementing the new work requirements will be applied to other social programs in the state. Savings from both TANF and SNAP will be used to provide child care assistance for single parents, education assistance, transportation assistance and job training for individuals receiving those benefits.
The need presented for the welfare changes in Missouri are due to Missouri’s repeated low ranking on the Heartland Institute’s scores on welfare reform. Missouri scored an “F” on the 2015 Welfare Reform Report Card: A State-by-State Analysis of Anti-Poverty Performance and Welfare Reform Policies. The Heartland Institute began the grading system after the 1996 Welfare Reform Act was signed by President Bill Clinton to require welfare recipients to engage in work activities.
Sen. Sater stated, “Simply volunteering or providing community service, or participating in a job training program, can fulfill the work requirement and put that person on the path to the success and dignity that comes from providing for yourself and your family. It is not too much to ask for recipients of public assistance to work or give back something for the benefits the taxpayers provide.”
According to data released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Missouri is regularly at the bottom or near the bottom in work participation for welfare benefits. The data states that only around 15 percent of Missouri’s welfare recipients are meeting current work requirements as set out by the Welfare Reform Act of 1996.
Governor Nixon has 15 days to decide whether to sign or veto SB 24. If the bill receives a veto, the General Assembly has the opportunity to override his decision at the end of the legislative session.