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Welfare in the United States Robert T. Kelley. Exploitation of the welfare system is a serious problem. “ T he government has created a protected class of citizens who are, based on lack of income, entitled to cash payments denied workers who pay their fair share of taxes ”
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Exploitation of the welfare system is a serious problem. • “The government has created a protected class of citizens who are, based on lack of income, entitled to cash payments denied workers who pay their fair share of taxes” - Mickey Kaus, Conservative Commentator
Welfare vs. Other Programs • Most government programs that provide help or benefits to citizens require the citizens to previously have worked. • Welfare is one of the only programs that allow benefits to be given to people who have never previously worked.
Welfare… • Gives help to people who are: • Out of work • Elderly • Disabled • Is intended to help poor and needy families get back on their feet
What kind of help does Welfare provide? • Cash, or income, assistance • Food Stamps • Medicaid • Medicare • Child Care Assistance • Section 8 Housing
Cash Assistance & Food Stamps • Cash Assistance: • Helps with: • Shelter • Utilities • Living Expenses • Provided to: • People who have lost their jobs • People temporarily unable to work • Food Stamps: • Helps: • People with low incomes and resources to buy food • Food Stamp users: • Given a Debit card • Their monthly food stamp allocation is placed into an account which links to the debit card
Medicaid & Medicare • Medicaid: • Helps: • Low income individuals and families with health care • These people are: • Children • Pregnant Women • People with disabilities • Elderly • Medicare: • Helps: • Focuses entirely on elderly population • Types of Medicare: • Part A • Covers hospital bills • Part B • Covers medical insurance • Part D • Covers prescription medications
Criticism of Welfare • Many critics see welfare as a promotion of out-of-wedlock childbearing and dependency on the government. • People who work minimum wage jobs often cannot qualify for welfare and struggle to provide for their families. • 65% of the people on welfare will stay on welfare for at least eight years. • Children who were raised in a family who received welfare assistance are seven times more likely to be on welfare themselves.
In Conclusion… • Exploitation of the welfare system is a serious problem and should be stopped.
Sources: • http://www.enotes.com/welfare-article • http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-welfare.htm • http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/help/food/foodstamps/index.html • http://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/foodstamp.cgi • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicaid • http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/?TabId=59 • http://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/media/storage/paper932/news/2010/11/18/Opinion/Putting.Welfare.To.Work.Community.Service.For.Welfare-3961721.shtml • http://www.madisonjournaltoday.com/archives/404-OPINION-Welfare-class-needs-to-learn-self-reliance.html • http://www.cato.org/pubs/handbook/hb105-25.html • http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/785769/gross_salary_versus_takehome_pay_what.html?cat=3 • http://www.liheap.ncat.org/profiles/povertytables/FY2010/popstate.htm • http://www.rentjungle.com/average-rent-in-richmond-va-rent-trends/ • http://www.eia.doe.gov/ask/electricity_faqs.asp#electricity_use_home • http://www.leakbird.com/running-toilets/the-average-monthly-household-water-bill-5100-water-facts-and-running-toilets-leakbirdx • http://www.themenumom.com/the-average-grocery-bill • http://www.welfareinfo.org/payments/ • http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=30357 • http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1499477&referrerid=93883