State officials should be commended for working proactively on new welfare rules ahead of federal changes designed to more aggressively press the welfare-to-work idea.

The latest wrinkle, announced by the Department of Human Services, is called "Reward Work." It allows some welfare recipients — those who have been on welfare for two years or less — to keep job earnings with no impact on their welfare payments.

After two years, grants would slowly diminish as earnings increase.

Under the existing program, welfare benefits are directly reduced as a family's income increases. This discourages people from seeking work and provides little incentive to get off the dole.

That's the wrong outcome for a program that is designed to encourage independence and wean people from what some characterize as a "welfare" lifestyle.

There's no question this new program will add to the cost of the state's welfare budget. State officials had no immediate estimate of the overall cost.

But the ideal payoff is that greater numbers of welfare recipients will seek and keep jobs.

This produces a higher level of self-reliance and self-worth and not coincidentally adds to the state's tax collections.

Another worthwhile change is a state commitment to provide up to $200 a month in rent subsidies for those who have exhausted their regular welfare eligibility but are willing to work at least 20 hours a week.

Under new national federal welfare "reform" laws, there is a five-year limit on eligibility. During those five years it makes sense to do everything possible to ensure that recipients will leave welfare with job skills, job opportunities and a strong and sustainable work ethic.