Moreover, he says the federal law provides that up to 20 percent of caseloads may be exempt from time limits for reasons of hardship. There were long lines to get into this workshop. The large majority of those attending were government social workers. It was standing room only by the time Greenberg began his lecture. Greenberg said he was troubled that the bill places restrictions on parole and probation offenders, legal immigrants, and drug offenders who want to receive welfare.
States can still fund legal immigrants if they choose to.
The same options are available to states that want to avoid the federal law's strict time limits. According to Greenberg, states can restructure welfare payments so that recipients never come up against time limits. Greenberg did not satisfy everyone in the audience. Still, Greenberg's advice was welcomed by the appreciative audience of note-takers. Afterwards, I spoke with Andrea Kumura, of the Seattle-based Central Youth and Family Service.