Mayor Gray's budget delays D.C. welfare cuts

For D.C. welfare recipients who have been in the program for more than five years, cuts are likely on the way — but $5.9 million in Mayor Vincent Gray’s budget could delay them for a while.

The D.C. Council approved legislation in April 2011 that scheduled a number of changes with the ultimate goal of cutting funding for welfare recipients after five years in the program. A 20 percent cut in benefits took effect that April, but since then the council has repeatedly delayed further reductions, citing concerns about the city’s ability to evaluate welfare recipients.