Work First, which began in July 1995, is North Carolina's plan to help families stay off welfare or move off welfare and into jobs. Work First means what it says.
Work is required for families on welfare.
Work First is based on the premise that parents have a responsibility to support themselves and their children. In any given month, depending on how many families come into the system, how long they stay, and how many leave, the number of families on welfare rises or falls. Keeping families off welfare by helping them cope with unexpected emergencies or setbacks. Under Work First, qualifying families can get up to three months worth of cash Diversion Assistance, childcare, Food Stamp benefits, and Medicaid, if they stay off welfare. Shortening the length of time that families are on welfare by making work mandatory and by limiting how long a family can receive cash assistance.