Why do people not understand the welfare system?

Question

Don't people realize that welfare is only available to families for 2 years, and after those two years are up, people must find work and support themselves? Don't people realize that welfare DOES NOT allow people to live comfortably and that many people on welfare STILL LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE?

Don't people realize that the majority of people living on welfare would rather NOT be living on welfare....and that most of them are NOT too lazy to work...and that most of them TRY to find jobs, but they are forced to live on welfare because they cannot get jobs that pay enough to support their homes and families?

Thanks Belle for the information! I guess some of my statistics were wrong...

Also, I should mention the the welfare system is not a good one. It needs to be reformed, especially becasue it does little to help people get out of poverty.

Anyhow, that question was my little rant to people who know absolutely nothing about it and buy into believeing the whole Reagan "welfare mom" idea that EVERYONE on welfare is leeaching the system. I'm glad to know that some people aren't totally opposed to the concept of helping those in need though. haha.

stjdavis2006: are you serious?isn't that a BIT extreme? lol

Answer 1

seattlecutiepie:
The average American pays approximately $10 per year toward Welfare. If you're paying $10,000 in taxes, here's how it's broken down:
$4200 - Social Security / Medicare / Medicaid
$1900 - Defense
$900 - Interest on the National Debt
$3000 - Other (this includes Welfare programs, but also Dept. of Education, Health & Human Services, FDA, NEA, etc.)

The HHS (which oversees the means-tested assistance programs) is about a third of the $3000 (or $1000). Of the HHS Budget, $13 Billion of the $668 Billion of the HHS Budget is spent on the Administration of Children and Families, 2%, so we're now down to $20.

So you spend about $20 of your tax dollars on assistance to families. The worst estimates say that about 15% of that money is wasted on abuse of the program, so that's $3.

Just so you have some accurate numbers for complaining next time. Make sure you say "I'm tired of spending $20 on these people!" "Or I'm tired of $3 of my money going to lazy people who don't truly need assistance.

Study the numbers first, ***** second. That's the way you need to play the game.

Answer 2

You are a sweetheart to realize that no one wants to be on
welfare. They really don't and usually run out of money or
food long before the end of the month, because welfare really
doesn't give you enough to last a month.
You're right, most jobs around here don't pay enough in
accordance to the price of rent - it's ridiculous.
Everyone wants a good paying job, not everyone can afford
a continued education. It's pretty much a mess our officials
refuse to acknowledge. Why should they care? They already
make about $400.000 & have the ability to vote themselves
a raise.
It's shame at it's finest - sad to say.

Answer 3

Most people don't realize either that 80% of the welfare dollar goes to pay for administrative costs About 20% gets to the needy.

Answer 4

You have some of your information wrong.

Welfare is a Federal program & is available for a maximum of 5 years for LIFE. The parent(s) are required to work or do community service. A single parent is required to work 32 hours or community service equivalent. 2 parent households are required 35 hours.

Answer 5

if the people that talk about the people on welfare had to live on welfare .for two years they would sure have better sence.the people that are runing our country now have did nonthing but help the oil co.s get richer.they have taken the medical from the sick and old people just too make the oil people happie.so as you see the gass get over 4.oo or 5 dollars .you mite think about what the g.o.p is realy doing. if you people care about what is going on.an all of this is because of bin laden .it is to scear people

Answer 6

Because our System is made to make feel peoples that they always pay and get notthing, so they desinterrest so they can run the contry and everuone look everywhere else. This is the best system because we put back on his feet someone, that make him able to work and pay back taxes and, for sure, by reducing the poverty among the People, it also reduce the problem related to poverty....Steal, hold-up, etc. Same thing with public school system, peoples get educated and can make him a better life of wealth or understanding...so we also reduce the problem related with ignorance... (Bush elected 2 times????..hum sorry i dont have the right to say that but...)

Answer 7

I think anyone who is trying to do the right thing and truly needs help should be helped as long as necessary. Its a shame the people who need help have such a hard time getting it.
It is cruel for someone to work all their lives and then when they get old they have to choose between food and medication and when good honest people keep getting knocked down and you're right the little help that is available is limited

Answer 8

I will be honest I know very little about the welfare system..I know that if used right it is a very valuable help. Anyone that thinks it is impossible to bethem, is ignorant..I came close to be homeless through a seriesof misfortune, but squeked it out and now am looking to buy a second home. but I do think the system is easily abused by some

Answer 9

most people don't understand because they are fortunate enough to have never experienced it. to all you people who think people on welfare are lazy and just trying to get a free ride your wrong. I've never met one person on welfare who actually would rather be on welfare than get a job and support there families themselves

Answer 10

No, the far-right media chanting "lazy welfare mom" and using it as a strawman prop for their attack-dog politics is easier than actually researching facts and coming up with workable solutions. Extremists on both sides seem far more likely to completely pull statistics and "facts" out of their collective @sses for the never-ending pissing contests..