PA lagging in Welfare to Work

Pennsylvania is among a handful of states that need to improve the number of welfare recipients working, the AP reports. Under new federal law, states are required to have 50% of TANF recipients in the workforce, with penalties going into effect in 2009. This would require the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare to increase the work participation by 220%.

DPW claims they currently have a 32% participation rate, while the federal government's latest estimates put as at under 20%. The latest full national report, from 2004, ranked Pennsylvania last among the 50 states, with only a 7% participation rate.