1,055 isle families
kicked off welfare

A new state policy cuts
benefits to families if able
adults do not meet certain
work requirements

By Gordon Pang
Star-Bulletin

The state Department of Human Services says 1,055 Hawaii families will not get their welfare checks Sept. 4 because able adults in the families did not meet a deadline to find work or begin job training after two years on public assistance.

Under a new state policy, failure to meet minimum job requirements after two years results in a loss of benefits not just for individuals, but for entire families under what's been dubbed "full family sanction." The families had until July 31 to meet the requirement. Many of them are now "in panic mode," said Kristine Foster, financial assistant in the department's Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division.

Reasons most often given: they "weren't aware of it, couldn't find anything or didn't think it would really happen," Foster said.

The average welfare family of three receives $497 in benefits from the state. The sanction does not affect food stamps or other benefit programs. Foster estimates some 3,000 men, women and children will be affected all together

They will be able to regain their benefits Oct. 1 if they meet the requirements by the end of this month.

An additional 1,100 families will reach their 25th month on Aug. 31 and could also lose their benefits, Foster said, and the numbers will continue to grow monthly.

"That's real bad news for us," said Lynn Maunakea, the executive director of the Institute for Human Services.

She said Oahu's only overnight shelter program is already turning away families.