Welfare programs in the U.S. are designed to ensure that the basic needs of the American population are met. Federal and state social programs include cash assistance, health insurance, food assistance, housing subsidies, energy and utilities subsidies, and education and childcare assistance. Similar benefits are sometimes provided by the private sector either through policy mandates or on a voluntary basis. In 1996, Congress passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Welfare Reform Act). The new law placed permanent ceilings on the amount of federal funding for welfare, and gave each state a block grant of money to help run its welfare program. The law stated that federal funds may only be used to provide a total of five years of aid in a lifetime of a family. Another significant change was the complete exclusion of legal aliens from receiving any SSI benefits. The passage of the Contract with America Advancement Act of 1996 further narrowed the number of people allowed to receive SSI disability benefits by requiring that drug addiction or alcoholism not be a material factor in their disability.
@ISIDEWITH9yrs
More, reform the system so that it supplements, rather than replaces, a working income
@ISIDEWITH9yrs
Fewer, current benefits do not provide enough support
@ISIDEWITH8yrs
Fewer, and ensure benefits go to those that need it most
@ISIDEWITH8yrs
More, but increase benefits for the elderly and disabled
@ISIDEWITH8yrs
More, and deny benefits to immigrants
@ISIDEWITH9yrs
More, current benefits should be capped
@982SYWG19hrs
More, simply because of the ease of getting it. It should be given to those who are physically and/ or mentally not able to work. Not given to lazy people who have a bunch of kids and don't want to work.
@982GRX71 day
More and benefits to the immigrants
@97ZZF732 days
Food stamps should never be denied to those who need it especially those families with children especially since the price of food has skyrocket so much so quickly in the past few years and no services to those here illegally. If they are immigrants that is fine but only if legally here or in the process of becoming US citizens
@David-Cooper3 days
More, we should be helping our citizens get back into the workforce, not letting them stay at home.
@979LZZ6 3 days
What if the workforce is what's keeping people poor in the first place? Just because someone has a job doesn't mean they have enough to sustain themselves. We can either regulate the workforce OR provide adequate public welfare, but we can't do neither...
@@Jason20245 days
Fewer, but I would suggest that we get a Universal Basic Income (UBI) system instead.
@97Z8N645 days
The entire system needs restructuring so that it no longer perpetuates the poverty cycle
@97Z3V7D6 days
We should make it easier to get help, but change the form of help from cash to vouchers for rent, gas, food, etc
@97YR7547 days
Irrelevant; there should be no welfare benefits.
@97YQ7TW7 days
Fewer, current benefits do not provide enough support. But, deny them to immigrants.
More and if you are on welfare you should have to perform community service to get it.
@97XQ3K31wk
Likely - More restrictions. Welfare should be reformed to supply help when it is needed, but not abused by individuals. Ideally, in most cases, welfare should be a transitional point into allowing an individual to not be dependent on welfare. However, I respect that there are cases where welfare is appropriate and a valued means of help.
The system needs reform
Welfare shouldn't be a check people receive, but rather just pay directly for food and bills like rent, utilities, and car payments. Anyone who doesn't make enough dhould be able to qualify. However much that means we need to spend so that people's basic needs are met, then that's fine.
@97WP6XX2wks
Keep it as it is but set a time limit for how long you can be on welfare, so actions can take place.
@97WJF3L2wks
Do away with Welfare and instate a universal basic income system.
there shouldn't be welfare
@97W4FGB2wks
More, and deny benefits to immigrants. However, those receiving welfare should not lose their benefits entirely upon gaining employment or receiving a wage increase.
@97VRQ322wks
Fewer, there should be no restrictions
@97VJF3L2wks
More, the system is too expensive.
@97QWJPP2wks
Should supplement rather than replace. People who are not able to get a job should have "replaced" welfare.
@97QQGF62wks
Change welfare so that it becomes a sliding system that incentives getting and maintaining a job, rather than having a harsh income cap.
@97QNLJK2wks
Fewer, but only for legal American citizens
@97Q83WK2wks
Fewer, but provide the benefits to only our citizens
Fewer restrictions on those who have clean reputations, and more restrictions on those who have misused benefits in the past
@97MTP6S3wks
More, reform the system so that it supplements, rather than replaces, a working income If you cannot work, then welfare should still apply
@97M5KC23wks
Since this decision is set by individual states, I don't feel that there is a "pat answer" to this question. Some states need to increase restrictions, others need to decrease their restrictions.
@97LMPCT3wks
Regardless the welfare state should be abolished.
@97LKCNN3wks
Rather see a universal basic income
@97LJ82C3wks
More, reform the system to be supplementary and only replacing working income for those physically or mentally unable to work.
@97LFXS63wks
Welfare as it is seems designed to keep people dependant rather than offer a route to self sufficiency
@97KKWYQ3wks
Guarantee minimal basic needs, but supplement wages for anything beyond.
@97KPKRH3wks
More, reform the system so that it helps people find work and then allow it to supplement rather than replace, a working income
@97JQRDL3wks
who does it affect and maybe not
@97JFYT53wks
More, but increase benefits for the elderly and disabled while also reforming the system so that, for those who are on welfare but are not elderly nor disabled, it supplements rather than replaces a working income.
Remove welfare and replace with UBI.
@97GPQSW3wks
Welfare benefit are meant to help people, but the current system traps them in welfare. Welfare beneficiaries should be allowed to save money, which aids independence. Making young adult children responsible for the household should not be done. They cannot become self-sufficient if they cannot earn for themselves or save money.
@CaptainAB3wks
The welfare system should be abolished altogether but with the caveat that there's a universal basic income, healthcare is affordable and if people want to can work for the high-class life.
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