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New Cap On Cash Welfare For Michigan Residents

LANSING (WWJ) - A new law signed by Governor Rick Snyder will limit the time a Michigan resident can receive welfare.

A stricter, four-year lifetime limit on cash welfare benefits was signed into law on Tuesday by Gov. Snyder.

"We are returning cash assistance to its original intent as a transitional program to help families while they work toward self-sufficiency and also preserving our state's integral safety net for families most in need," Snyder said.

The governor said in a release sent Tuesday that the state will offer exemptions for those with a disability who can't work or in certain other cases.

Gilda Jacobs, President & CEO of the Michigan League for Human Services: "With unemployment at nearly 11 percent and half of jobless people looking for work for six months or longer, we know that jobs are not readily available to absorb nearly 41,000 people leaving the state's cash assistance safety net in October. The jobs just don't exist."

According to the Associated Press, state officials say they're working with nonprofit organizations to direct welfare recipients to other services and provide a "soft landing" as they lose benefits.

The governor signed the legislation Tuesday, stating the state's four-year limit on cash assistance will be more strictly enforced beginning Oct. 1.

More information on Welfare Reform here.

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