HONOLULU (AP) – For the past decade, Hawaii has made modest payments to low-income families when a parent stops receiving welfare and begins working. The programs are designed to encourage welfare recipients to find and keep jobs so they won’t have to rely on government assistance.
But tight budgets are forcing the state to eliminate these work incentive programs at the end of next month, taking away a cushion more than 1,000 families have relied on to help pay the rent, utilities and other expenses.
The department notified the roughly 1,200 households that will be effected in a mailing last week. It will send another notice next month. About 60 percent of the families are on Oahu.
The state Department of Human Services says the move is a last resort.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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