Millennium will leave many poor out in cold

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1999 | 11 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The turn of the century won't be a joyous celebration for hundreds of welfare families who will be kicked off public assistance because of a two-year limitation in Nevada law.

"We're very, very concerned these people are going off welfare without any support system," Bobbie Gang of the Nevada Women's Lobby said. "Our biggest concern is about children without food and medical care."

She said there are probably not jobs available for these families or they are not trained for them.

The state Welfare Division on Tuesday said an estimated 347 families will be knocked off the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program on Jan. 1 because they haven't landed a job in the past two years. Welfare officials estimate another 150 to 200 families a month will become ineligible for benefits starting in February.

A 1996 federal law limited welfare payments to five years. A 1997 Nevada law imposed further limits. It said a family on welfare aid for 24 months must go off for at least 12 months -- the sitting out period.

After the 12-month disqualification the family can return to the program for another two years before being cut off again.

"The philosophy behind the 24-month limitation and 12-month sitting out period is to promote a work first environment and prevent families from using up their five year lifetime limit at one time," Welfare Administrator Myla Florence said.

"In the months since welfare reform began Nevada has worked hard to put in place a number of opportunities for welfare recipients to acquire education and job skills, receive employment services and help with job retention," she said.

Gang said there was a question whether the recipients have been given adequate training to get jobs and whether they received counseling for substance abuse and mental health, if needed. Those may be things the recipients need in order to interview and hold down a job, she said.

Gang suggested counties might be able to provide some short-term help. But the burden, she said, "is really going to fall on private and nonprofit social agencies." Some of the people who lose welfare payments, which average $348 a month for a family of three, will still be eligible for food stamps, she said.

"This was (Gov.) Bob Miller's plan and now we will see how it will work," she said. "I hope the state Welfare Board will take a close look at what is happening to the families."

The state's figure of 347 families seems to be high, she added, as is the possible disqualification of 100 to 150 families a month starting in February.

The law does make exceptions in cases of illness, incapacity, caring for a disabled family member, having a child under age 1, being a student with a child, being a caretaker over age 60 or a non-needy caretaker of children on cash assistance.

Florence said her staff is reviewing each case to look for such exceptions. It is imperative, she said, that welfare recipients be aware of the deadline.

"Welfare division employees are ready to give immediate employment services to any family unprepared for the termination of their cash benefits," Florence said.

This is not the first deadline welfare recipients have faced. In January 1999 families on aid for the two previous years had to be working or in an approved work activity or face sanctions required by the federal welfare reform law.

Florence said Nevada families did well. Only 34 families were sanctioned for not preparing themselves to enter the work force. She expects the current families who are affected also to do well.

"We must reach everyone, but especially those who are approaching the Jan. 1 date without having moved in the direction of work," Florence said.

"The staff will provide outreach and services but we can only do our part. The client must take action too."

She encouraged families to contact their local welfare caseworkers if they have questions about their benefits.