The state of Illinois is modifying its welfare program that requires recipients to work 25 hours or face losing their benefits, said B.J. Walker, director of community operations for the Department of Human Services.
“We got a lot of feedback about this and will amend a change made in October so that clients working 20 hours in combination with 5 or more class or credit hours will still be able to stop the clock on their 5-year lifetime limit on benefits,” Walker said.
“This is the segment of people on welfare that will make it if you leave them alone,” said John Bouman, executive director of the Poverty Law Project. “They have a plan and are trying to carry it out.”
Walker could not say how many welfare recipients would be affected by the change, but an advocacy group estimated it could involve about 20 percent of those receiving benefits. The rest will have to work 25 hours a week, compared with the 20 hours mandated before Oct. 1.
Many advocates and members of the business community are critical of the 25-hour work requirement.
“What does 25 hours mean? Full-time status and benefits that have to be paid. It’s a very different situation for businesses,” said Carole Segal, vice president of civic affairs for Northbrook-based Crate & Barrel.
Changes in the program will be discussed Tuesday in Chicago at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which is authorized to approve new or amended state administrative rules.
