Increase in "victims" expected with new welfare waivers

Waivers from Massachusetts new welfare provisions began in September. The new provisions require mothers with school-age children to find work within 60 days, restrict cash benefits to 24 months over a 5-year period, and block increases in cash grants for additional children born while the family is receiving welfare.

The waivers apply to women who claim they are victims of domestic violence. According to department spokesman Richard Powers, "applicants will be presumed waived" once they fill out the paperwork at the local office.

Governor Weld's domestic violence commission began investigating the need for waivers as soon as his plans for welfare reform were initiated. The commission asked the McCormick Institute at the University of Massachusetts in Boston to survey welfare on domestic violence. The Caucus of Women legislators hailed the report earlier this year at a press conference at the State House. According to witnesses, it was acknowledged that "no" men were interviewed, and that the survey was conducted by battered women.

The department will mail out notices to all welfare recipients alerting them to the waivers. There are presently 73,141 families receiving welfare benefits. No doubt we can soon expect new reports showing that domestic violence exists in epidemic proportions within the welfare community.