Should welfare require proof of citizenship?

Question

I posted this in an answer and wondered what people would think:

A much easier way to solve both the welfare and illegal problems is to require proof of citizenship at the welfare counter.

Then, if legal non-citizen residents couldn't get on welfare without being naturalized (essentially having to prove themselves as productive workers), most people would have fewer problems with making legal residency easier for otherwise law-abiding immigrants.

Answer 1

Welfare DOES require proof of citizenship - refer above to Ruth's answer. It's not the current immigrants who will tax our welfare system - it's their children, who are having babies out of wedlock at an alarming rate, who qualify for the whole nine yards of entitlements. And, sir, we need to cut AMERICANS off of welfare just as well. Maybe if they were all WORKING, we wouldn't have such a need for imported LABOR.

Answer 2

sounds like a simple up front solution but , what do u do about
the people who pick your produce if u don't pay taxes for those that help you why pay taxes to the unconstitutional fed.reserve or countries overseas of even billions to Iraq where are the priorities .I would delete the fed before the immigrants becuase it cis obviously illegal and simply cost more as well ....welfare and migrants are small potatoes in comparison we sould support those that are helpful instead of those who steal from us .....

Answer 3

Nobody who is without a social security number can collect welfare benefits, unless they are refugees, I think. (Wanted to work for the welfare office at one time....) That doesn't stop one person who was born here, like a child, from getting benefits for their entire unnaturalized family though.

Canada has a similar idea of keeping out unproductive people; they require two years of steady, sustainable work experience, preferably in a major industry, ability to speak at least two languages, more things.

Answer 4

It should and it does...

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending), much of the illegal welfare is "back door," not through front door application, by which I mean:

Pregnant women--statutorily presumptively eligible for Medicaid
Public Schools--not allowed to inquire about legal status
Medical Emergency--Doctors don't turn away people in medical emergencies (Hyppocratic oath)
Housed in our jails...

Don't forget the number of American women who find themselves pregnant with the children of illegals...

Answer 5

Yes that would help, but I think really the churches should be the ones helping people out, not the government. Plus, the government doesn't do a good job of screening people and people can sit on their butts all day perfectly fine and get free money.

It might help, but it won't solve anything.

Answer 6

Here, where I leave, you can't get welfare if you are not legal, they ask for ur SSN, birth certificate, proof of where u live, and I don't know what else!! I live in Indiana by the way!

Answer 7

YES!!!!! I see absolutely no problem with proving that you are a citizen before drawing welfare.

Answer 8

Yes, and for Social Security too.

Answer 9

Ask Rachel Ward of Butler Pennsylvania, she seems to know all about welfare.

Answer 10

Yes.