Indiana to expand hybrid welfare system

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana's social services agency says it will expand its hybrid welfare eligibility system to 13 more counties next week.

The Family and Social Services Administration said Tuesday that will put 72 of the state's 92 counties on the hybrid system, which was created after problems with the state's efforts to automate welfare intake functions. The hybrid system combines some aspects of automated intake but adds more face-to-face contact between state case workers and clients.

Counties switching to the hybrid system on Monday include Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper, Benton, St. Joseph, LaPorte, Elkhart, LaGrange, Starke, Marshall, Pulaski and Fulton.

Officials have said they hope to have the entire state on the hybrid system by the end of the year.