Quote:
Originally Posted by
dainerra 
actually, the entire system needs over-hauled. Yes, there are people who abuse the system. There are those who come from a long line of lifetime welfare recipients. Benefit limits have helped a LOT with that.
However, there still is work to be done. the vast majority on welfare want to get off. However, the system is actually designed to discourage that. Case workers will advise people to quit their job because minimum wage/part time isn't enough to live on, but is too much for welfare. You are receiving aid and trying to get back on your feet? Well it had better be straight into a full-time job! Otherwise you will have to quit if you want to be able to feed your kids.
Many states have welafre to work programs. They require recipients to work at certain jobs a set number of hours to receive their benefits. It's mostly along the lines of volunteer work - cleaning highways, parks, etc. If you give the toll booth jobs, the DMV, government jobs to those on welfare then what are you going to do with all the people currently working those jobs?
How TRUE that is! When I lost my job, was pregnant, hubby has a job but not making much with NO health benefits, I had to cash out my 401K to GET the medicaid and food stamps because they consider it as an asset! I thought why should I want to cash in my retirement?! Oh it just sucks big time and still can not go on 401K because my daughter is on Medicaid but we are not, thankfully hubby has a better job, has own health insurance and we are NO longer on the welfare program. I had over $10,000 in the 401K that I worked HARD and now what will we do when we retire? I don't like the way it ran the program, thus creating MORE career welfare folks who had NO choice but to go up to get out of it. Employers are not hiring and the cycle is vicious.
We were on welfare off and on for six years until hubby found this job which we are totally off of it except the only thing we have that we needed for our daughter was the secondary carrier for Medicaid All Kids Care program. We actually pay nothing on her bills but there are certain things they will not pay for are her ADD tests, the PSY care and counseling she required to have for her handicap as well as us, as parents, needed the tools to help our daughter. Too many kids out there that are not covered by the state, they fall thru the cracks, and that is why it was so long getting our daughter diagnosed with ADD and Asperger's. I thought we live in a great country that can help our kids become more productive but alas, it was not unless you are willing to pay out of pocket expenses to GET the help.