WELFARE SYSTEM

What is Welfare?

Welfare is the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens that is provided by the government.

DIFFERENT FORMS

PROVIDED TO:

• Unemployed people
• Mentally or disabled people
• The elderly
• Veterans
• Adults with dependent children

The first form of welfare came to be during the Great Depression. AFDC (Aid to Dependent Children) was created during the Great Depression to alleviate the burden of poverty for families with children and also allow widowed mothers to maintain their households.

In the late 90's, President Bill Clinton implemented a new type of welfare program. This program was called TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.) TANF encouraged states to require some sort of employment search in exchange for providing funds for individuals. This plan imposes a 5-year lifetime limit on cash assistance.

WELFAFE Statistics

• 31.9% were African American
• 31.8% were Caucasian
• 30% were Hispanic
• The other 6.3% were of different races (Asian, Alaskan American....)
• 4.1% of the American population is on the Welfare system

WELFARE SPENDING

• In 2010, $927 billion total was gifted to the welfare programs, while $462 billion went to families with children.

Welfare Abuse
Until very recently, there were few restrictions to stop welfare recipients from spending their benefits on alcohol and drugs. In 2012, congress passed legislation forbidding the use of cash benefits at places like bars or adult venues.

WELFARE ABUSE CONT.

• The state government also passed a legislation requiring ATM vendors to electronically block the withdrawal of cash benefits at certain locations. In 2014, the state of Indiana reports that in the last year it has cut this kind of unlawful use of welfare cash by more than half.