Welfare Reform: Taking Control of Fraud and Abuse
http://www.maine.gov/governor/lepage/accomplishments/welfare_reform.shtml
Welfare reform was a large part of the 2012-2013 budget, which emphasized Maine will no longer be considered a welfare destination state. A new 5 year limit on welfare benefits, which aligns Maine with other states, and conforms to federal law has gone into effect. The limit does allow for certain exemptions for hardship cases - including those involving the elderly and disabled.
Drug testing has also been implemented for welfare recipients convicted of drug crimes and those who violate welfare rules now face stricter sanctions. A first offense will result in the loss of adult benefits and a second offense may lead to termination of full family benefits.
In addition, Dirigo Health will be phased out with an end date of January 1, 2014 and legal noncitizens are no longer eligible for MaineCare benefits as of July 1, 2011.
However, the Governor has made it clear that more work needs to be done. “We must continue make these types of changes to the system, not only to achieve significant savings, but to encourage Mainers to become self-sufficient. This is a down payment on welfare reform and, after implementing these changes and gauging the results, I look forward to doing more,” stated the Governor.
Cracking Down on Maine’s Welfare Reform
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/393552/cracking-down-maines-welfare-reform-jillian-kay-melchior
26NOV2014
(excerpt)
Governor LePage reins in entitlement abuse, and the Obama administration objects.
Maine’s Republican governor won re-election largely on his welfare-reform agenda — and the federal government is not pleased. Late last week, the Obama administration threatened to cut federal funding over one of Maine’s new anti-fraud measures, while the LePage administration began marketing its aggressive reform agenda to a national audience. Grab the popcorn. Statewide reform in Maine was overdue; the state’s unemployment rate is a mere 5.6 percent, but one in five residents receives food-stamp benefits, the state’s Department of Health and Human Services reports. Meanwhile, fraud and abuse cost Maine an estimated $3.7 million every year.
Maybe they can head to California. I read their legislature is working on a plan to supplement the federal EITC with an additional 30% state money.