(AP) – State officials say requests for cash assistance under Iowa’s main welfare program have dropped to a “modern-day low.”

Department of Human Services officials reported 15,101 cases in the family investment program in July. That’s 72 below the previous low set about four years ago, before the 2008 recession caused cases to increase.

Agency spokesman Roger Munns says officials expect the numbers to continue to drop until June 2014, when they will likely level off.

Munns credits an improving economy for the drop in welfare cases.