DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — A newspaper analysis shows that tens of thousands of Ohioans left the welfare rolls this year, putting enrollment at its lowest point since the benefit for the poor was reformed in the 1990s.
The Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/NPYjkT ) reports that the drop does not necessarily reflect an improving economy.
The largest single reason people left the welfare rolls is because officials are taking a harder stance on requiring people to perform work activities as required under law. That includes work, community service or job training for at least 30 hours a week.
In the 12 months ending in July, state records showed the number of Ohio households receiving welfare and cash paid out dropped by 20 percent. There were 73,451 Ohio households in the program in July.
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Information from: Dayton Daily News, http://www.daytondailynews.com
