Under the new welfare law, you are required to work for your benefits. You will be assigned to a particular job or work site by either the Office of Employment Services (OES) or BEGIN.

~ MAXIMUM ~
NUMBER OF HOURS

Maximum WORK Hours:

The maximum number of hours you can be required to participate in WORK activities (such as WEP) in a given month is calculated by using the following minimum wage formula:

Important Note:

Beyond the hours you can be assigned to participate in work activities (such as WEP), you can also be assigned to additional hours for education, training, and job search. Most heads of households with children are assigned a COMBINED total of 35 hours per week (WEP plus education, training, and/or job search).

Maximum COMBINED Hours: Work, Education, and Training:

40 is the magic number!

The maximum number of hours that you can be required to perform work activities COMBINED with education and training is 40 hours per week.

~ MINIMUM ~

NUMBER OF HOURS

Households With Children

If you are a single parent caring for children under 18:
          2000 and beyond: 30 hours a week (at least)

If you are a parent in a two-parent household:
        If you are able to find child care:
         Both parents are required to work for a combined total of at least 55 hours
            a week (unless one of you is disabled or caring for a severely disabled child).

        If you are unable to find child care:
         Both parents are required to work a combined total of at least 35 hours per week.

Households Without Children

If you are a single adult without children:
         21 hours a week (on average) of work activities (such as WEP), but HRA can assign
             singles to work and additional other activities (such as job search).

Note

If you are couple without children:
      No more than 35 hours (for the two of you combined)

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