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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Welfare) Is it Advantageous or Disadvantageous? Danielle Barnes Alva Hartry Vivilora Thompson. Welfare As We Knew It. Due to the Great Depression of the ’20s & ’30s, a national welfare system was established under the Social Security Act.
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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families(Welfare)Is it Advantageous or Disadvantageous?Danielle BarnesAlva HartryVivilora Thompson
Welfare As We Knew It • Due to the Great Depression of the ’20s & ’30s, a national welfare system was established under the Social Security Act. • The welfare system focused mainly on creating jobs for the masses of unemployed workers and provided federal aid for poor children and other dependent persons.
Welfare Today • In 1996, a law was passed by the U. S. Congress which was the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act known as Welfare reform. • Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC as we know it) is now known as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). • The welfare plan was designed to attack one of the most troubling aspects of poverty: "welfare dependency."
Welfare Today continued. . . • TANF eliminated cash assistance to welfare recipients, imposed work requirements, made sanctions against individuals and families who failed to comply, and individuals had five years to become relieved of assistance.
Welfare Reform Policy • Welfare Reform policy had three characteristics in place: --It was to end the dependence of needy families on government benefits. --It was designed to promote job preparations, work and marriage. --It gave states the discretion to develop their own reform programs with the use of federal block grants.
Pro Most people who get assistance are careful to follow the policies and procedures. Con It encourages fraud. Illegally sell foods stamps to buy alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. Work “on the side” without informing the department. Non recipients live in subsidize housing for low income families.
Pro Eliminates dead beat dads. Con Noncustodial parents are subject to invasion of privacy, loss wages, and jail.
Pro Help TANF recipients survive in the workforce; therefore, boosting self-esteem. Con Does not provide emotional support for those who are trying to stay employed.
Pro Recipients only need to work 30 hours per week. Con Does not prepare them mentally for the true hour work-week.
Pro An anti-poverty program focuses on the needs of the working poor--good education and jobs with livable wages and benefits-- not their behavior or values. Con People feel trapped by a system that does not allow them to save enough money to permanently leave welfare.
Pro Assistance is always available if people need assistance to provide for their family. Con Because jobs are low paying and do not offer training for advancement, recipients choose to continue to receive benefits.
Con • It does not promote or support individuals to pursue or continue post-secondary education in order to gain decent employment with fringe benefits. Pro • It provides programs such as professional dress seminars and technical training for recipients.
References Alfred, M. V (2007). Welfare Reform and Black Women’s Economic Development. Adult Education Quarterly. Retrieved March 6, 2008, from http://Ovnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.novacat.nova.edu/hww/results/results_single_ftPES.jhtml. Cove, P. "Privatization of Welfare Benefits Recipients." Opposing Viewpoints: Welfare. Ed. James Haley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. August 2004. Retrieved March 2, 2008. <http://www.enotes.com/welfare-article/43030>. Edin, Kathryn and Lein, Laura. "A Lack of Opportunities Keeps the Poor on Welfare." Opposing Viewpoints: Welfare. Ed. James Haley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. August 2004. Retrieved March 2, 2008. <http://www.enotes.com/welfare-article/43014>. Glenn, David (2002). What the data actually show about welfare reform. The Chronicle of higher education, 48 no 41, A14-A16. Jhirad, Susan (2006). Welfare “Reform” and One Community College. Radical Teacher. Retrieved March 6, 2008, from http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.novacat.nova.edu/hww/results_single_fulltext.jht
References continued . . . London, Rebecca (2006). The role of postsecondary education in welfare recipients’ paths to self-sufficiency. The journal of higher education, Vol.77, no. 3.: The Ohio State University. Morgan, Richard (2002). In debate over welfare reform, work trumps education. The chronicle of higher education, 48 no41, A24. Payne, James L., "Welfare Fraud Is Widespread." Opposing Viewpoints: Welfare. Ed. James Haley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. Retrieved March 2, 2008. <http://www.enotes.com/welfare-article/43019>. Seccombe, K . "Insufficient Welfare Benefits Encourage Fraud." Opposing Viewpoints: Welfare. Ed. James Haley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. August 2004. Retrieved March 3, 2008. <http://www.enotes.com/welfare-article/43020>.
Does welfare reform help or hinder welfare recipients?What makes you think so? Thoughts to Ponder . . .