Even before the new law was signed, the number of welfare recipients had declined by 15 percent from a record of 14.4 million in March 1994. That will affect the behavior of some people, perhaps a lot of people. Wisconsin and Michigan received a green light to move ahead on Monday night, as the administration certified that their state plans met all requirements of the new law. There will be a certain amount of turmoil in making these changes, and there will be some stories of hardship that tug at all our hearts. But I'm confident that many people will be helped and will take control of their lives, which otherwise would have been destroyed by a corrupt welfare system.
States have nine months to make decisions.
Each state will receive a lump sum of federal money, known as a block grant, based on the number of welfare recipients it had several years ago, and the numbers have declined sharply in many states. While there may be few immediate changes for the typical welfare family, composed of an American citizen mother with one or two children, immigrants face more drastic changes. Many noncitizens are to lose food stamps and disability benefits, known as Supplemental Security Income, in the near future. Lawrence Mead, a professor of politics at New York University, said the work requirements of the new law would ultimately prove more significant than any cut in benefits. There really will be a serious work requirement.