MDHS: 167 of 11,700 TANF applicants approved

MDHS confirms most new applicants rejected for welfare

The Mississippi Department of Human Services has confirmed that of the more than 11,700 people who applied for benefits last year through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, only 167 were approved….

…Dortch said he, in conjunction with the Legislative Black Caucus, expects to hold public hearings this summer on the low number of applicants being approved for TANF.

Longtime Jackson human rights advocate Rims Barber calls the low approval rate of TANF applicants “abominable.”

Barber said he believes it’s due to the attitude of the administration. He said he believes the DHS workers look to make it harder for the poor to qualify.

Clarion Ledger
4/20/17