From Illinois DHS website. This is federal law signed by Clinton and a (R) Congress. It applies to every state.
Work Requirement If you are a single parent who is able to work and your youngest child is under age 6, you must work or participate in a work activity for at least 20 hours per week. If you are a single parent who is able to work and your youngest child is age 6 or older, you must work or participate in a work activity for at least 30 hours per week. Two-parent families are required to work 35 hours per week. If you work, you must report your earnings every six months. Your cash benefits are reduced only $1 for every $4 you earn, and the department helps pay for necessary child care. Work and training activities include: unpaid work experience, on-the-job training, job search, community service programs, vocational education, subsidized employment, work-study, VISTA, Job Corps, and JTPA. Activities that address barriers to employment include treatment programs for domestic or sexual violence, substance abuse, and mental health disorders. For parents under age 20, attending high school or GED classes counts as a work activity.
Well that’s all fine and dandy, however enforcement is a whole other ball game. The law can say whatever it says but without the enforcement part it’s useless. I know a couple single mothers who I can tell you right now DO NOT volunteer anywhere for the benefits they receive.
LOL...
There are two simple ways to avoid the work requirement.
1 get pregnant every 5 years. Thus always having a kid under 6
2 spend 20 hours a week “looking” for work. since there is no way to verify how much time someone actually spent looking.
Lame easy to bypass rule.