Missouri looking to make welfare rules tougher

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri officials are preparing to toughen the rules for people on welfare in an effort to meet stricter federal requirements on how many recipients must be working or trying to work.

Currently, people sign up for cash assistance and can start getting paid, and then are referred to another state agency to begin efforts to find a job.

A key proposed change in state rules would require people to meet with work officials up front to work toward getting a job, before their application for benefits is approved.

The state faces federal penalties if more welfare recipients don't start working. Only about 19 percent of Missouri welfare recipients required to spend 30 hours a week looking for work, training for work or working were actually doing so as of December.