Why do people relay on food stamps and welfare other than looking for a job?

Question

Reguardless of race! this epidermic is among every race. These programs cost tax payers so much money. What is the benefit from welfair?

Now I don't want everybody to beat me up about my question, I am targeting that question to the ones that are abusing the system. Yes there are some people who do need some assistants. So don't make me out to be the bad guy!

Answer 1

Many reasons. Many single mothers can't afford to work. If they get a job making $6 an hour and work 40 hours a week then they'll bring home about $200 a week after taxes. $800/ month. Then they have to pay their rent, bills, gas, food for their children, medical expenses and at least $2.50/hr for daycare for their children while they are working ($100/wk). How can they do all of this on $800/mo? Could you do it?

At least food stamps insures that children aren't going hungry. People on welfare qualify for medicaid so they can see a doctor. .

If a women on welfare tries to better herself and get a job then she gets punished. The state cuts her benefits dollar for dollar. Whats the point in working and putting you kids in daycare for nothing?

What we need to do is come up with ways to make it easier for women to get off of welfare. Provide free education and job training. Free daycare while the mother is in these programs and a transitional benefit of being able to keep her medicaid and food stamps until she graduates and can find a better job. This will help get women off and keep them off of welfare for good. It may cost more money now but it would save taxpayers money in the long run b/c these women will be off welfare and paying taxes.


By the way- Clinton made a change in welfare. Women can only stay on for 5 years now. And they DON'T get more money if they have more children.



Buck- (you conservative republican)- I bet you also complain about abortion and say its wrong because a baby's life is precious. Why is it that you people only care about the life of a baby up until it is born and then complain that your tax dollars have to help support it?

Answer 2

As a caseworker in the welfare office for the last 15 years- I can say that one of the reasons so many WOMEN end up in the system is because of DEADBEAT fathers.

There has long been a stigma against "single mothers" who must sometimes depend on the system- however, many of these same women would be able to make it if they received the court ordered child support they are entitled to receive.

When this country starts to stigmatize the fathers who run from their responsibilities and who don't take care of their children- then maybe it would turn around.

That being said, most recipients are employed- they just don't have enough to pay peter AND paul and feed their kids. Not every client has more kids- some have suffered death of a spouse, a disability, emergency (car accident, etc), a layoff in an economically depressed area- and one must do what one has to do to feed their children.

Yes, there are people who abuse the system. I see it everyday. But I know and believe in karma- and know that those people who think they are really "getting over" really have a quite depressing life in the long run. They have nothing. They don't ever get to own their own home, take their children on vacations, aren't able to buy extras for their kids that the "working/nonwelfare recipients" are able to do. Who suffers in this? The kids.

I find it interesting that in the case of daycare, the most "expensive" daycares I've seen are run by uppity churches. Funny how those "churches" are set up to help- Jesus always has been on the side of the poor and burdened, yet when the poor need help to "get on their feet"- it's difficult to do.

We can change it all, one person at a time. I encourage anyone who is interested in changing the life of one person who just has no other guidance, or support system to volunteer your time- become a mentor. Mentoring in the schools may not help the mother on benefits, but it can certainly help the kids from being on them as adults.

Answer 3

Food stamps(about 23 million) and medicaid(about 45 million) are programs that are available to and mostly used by working people. There are about 2 million covered by "welfare" or what use to be AFDC, but is down 5 million. With the welfare reform bill of the 1980's there is a return to work requirement, so long term benefits are not available. Your perception that there is an epidemic of people not working and living off government benefits is not well founded. There is however a growing problem with people who cannot afford or for other reasons do not have medical insurance, or with chronic medical problems, who's medical cost are paid by the government. Both because of the increasing costs of care increasing numbers it is a growing burden on both state and federal government and the comprises the vast majority of welfare cost.

Answer 4

People rely on food stamps, welfare, rent assistance and subsidized health care because it makes financial sense to do so. The alternative is frequently a minimum wage job which takes up 40 hours of their time each week and does not provide sufficient income to take care of the items they now receive for free. The really smart recipients take cash jobs that they don't report in addition to the welfare benefits. Poor people need to be smarter in order to survive.

The problem is systemic. People need to make enough money working so they can make a living wage. If society ever figures that out, welfare programs can then be eliminated.

Answer 5

Think about it welfare is suppose to be in place for people who are having bad times. It gives them a chance to find a job or to seek the training they need to get a job. Some people just abuse the system. You are so right race doesnt matter.

Answer 6

There are many of us receiving SSI, food stamps, other programs because we have worked for many years, but became ill and/or have a TRUE disability.

I worked for well over 30 years. Then I became very dibilitated with severe fibromyalgia, pernicious amemia, and a low immune system (not HIV/AID's related). There were weeks when I could hardly get out of bed, times when I had to use canes and wheelchairs, and needed help with everyday tasks. When I was told about disability, I felt completely useless and thought about killing myself. Who wants to leach off the system when they are used to making their own money. But, I had to have some sort of income and went ahead with applying for Disability/SSI. I receive $10 of food stamps for a month.

I do not even have a car, preserve many fruits and vegetables given to me by wonderful friends, rarely use money to go out to eat. I do not drink alcohol, do drugs, or spend unwisely, yet I am barely able to live and pay bills.

A close friend of mine worked for over 40 years driving semi and farming. He had a stroke almost 4 years ago. It completely blocked the left side of his brain. He was sent to multiple doctors to see if he was fit for work or could go back to driving truck. NO WAY!! He was told he could go back to school to learn a new trade. One problem!!! He cannot read and has no short term memory because of the stroke. He finally was able to start receiving disability SSI. Because he is SLIGHTLY over the limit, he receives no medical benefits. Beside the stroke and because of it, he now has to be on medication for diabetes. He does what he can to control it through diet, but still needs medication and is supposed to go to see a doctor 6 times a year. With very little income, how is he supposed to survive, pay for doctor visits and medicine, plus pay his everyday bills and eat the right kinds of food so as not to aggrevate the diabetes.

We have both worked, paid taxes, supported the system, and paid our share of "idiotic" bills for the government. Now we need help. What is wrong with that???

Yes, there are many "leeches" who use the system and expect to receive everything while doing nothing. NOT ALL OF US!!!

Answer 7

I understand there are people that need assistance at times, but there are people who abuse the aid systems in place. I am of the belief that things such as welfare should be a means of temporary relief. What it boils down to is that giving out free assistance takes away from motivation to better one's self.

Answer 8

People rely on food stamps and welfare because they are lazy and it's the path of least resistance. (The kind of people you're complaining about, that is). Some people need it when they run into hard times and are still working and can't pay the bills. That's who it's really for.. but other ppl take advantage of the system. With no system, you can't take advantage of it.

Answer 9

Because that is how their mothers did it and they learned it from their mothers. Its the enviroment that they grew up in, so we have to stop the cylce (did you hear that you liberal democrats). I worked for the state Public Aid Dept for 8 years and had to leave because of what our govt allowed to happen. When a welfare mom or an illegal alien can get better health care than a working farm family, something is wrong. And dont say bullsh@t until you have worked in our failing system.

Answer 10

All the people I know who depend on welfare are lazy,always wanting to get something for free.There is too many programs out there to help people find jobs and free childcare for single moms,there should be no excuse to sit on your a!! and collect tax payers money.