There has been a lot of debate on welfare in that it is prone to abuse. However, there are many benefits of welfare to the country. The government should use taxes to support the provision of services to the public because this will ensure that every one has access to basic services and also help in reducing inequalities. If a cost-benefit analysis is done the benefits outweigh the costs.
One key important area where welfare helps is when it comes to poverty alleviation. The government support to poor families helps a lot. Under the welfare programs, for the poor to receive financial assistance the family must meet some work requirements for eligibility. The aim of the government is to help the recipients become self-sufficient by finding employment. According to Welfare Information, the reform in welfare through the introduction of TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) has helped reduce over-reliance of welfare by needy people. According to Wickenden, “The adults who are being assisted have to start work two years after receiving financial aid. If the adults have not started working the support is reduced and actually in some states the support is completely withdrawn” (p. 4). Moreover the states that do not place their welfare citizens on work programs will suffer federal financial penalties. There is a limit for the number of years one may be on welfare which is five years. This ensures that the welfare support is temporary. The welfare also encourages families since states are given more flexibility to support families with both parents. The states with the highest reduction of non-marital births and abortion get a bonus. The welfare helps reduce the dependency of parents on welfare by promoting work and marriage (Song, 23). Through welfare there has been increase in employment rate of single mothers. Social welfare also aids in distribution of wealth. It reduces the gap between the poor and the rich. Social welfare also helps in the market. In any market there needs to be demand and supply.
If an economy has production but no buyers the prices of goods go down creating high losses. Social welfare contributes to employment as it gives money to the poor. It gives them purchasing power to buy products. Secondly the poor are able to use the benefits of new products and services in the market. Furthermore, there are people who are unable to work such as the young, elderly and disabled. These people need to be taken care off. “In the country people may be willing to work but there are no employment opportunities. Welfare takes care of the unemployed before they are employed” (Azimzadar, 2).
Additionally, provision of welfare by the government helps in improving the healthcare of citizens. Through providing healthcare the social workers have people to treat creating a healthy workforce. Social welfare is important in healthcare. It is important that a country has a healthy workforce to work and help in development. The sick when not taken care of can become an immense burden to the working few. Instead of letting diseases become serious providing welfare is a way of providing preventive healthcare. The people are treated early and the burden on the working people is relieved. An individual is important as he is the one who contributes to development of a country. It is great to invest in people. Human beings are a resource. Everyday there are people who die yet they could have been assisted with social welfare. This contributes to reduced productivity levels in the country especially if it’s the young who are dying. Through social welfare there are diseases and conditions that may be discovered that assist the whole society as the country looks for drugs to treat the patients. The doctors are also able to run different kind of tests on the patients without restrictions. This ends up helping the society at the end of the day. People with pre-existing conditions are helped.
Finally, provision of use taxes by the government ensures that there is adequate provision of welfare and childcare. Children are the future of the country and investing in them leads to a greater future. A country that engages in social welfare prevents or reduces criminal tendencies. With the children being given food it means they will not have the desperation to steal and commit other crimes in order to have food to make it through the day. Most of the people in jail today started criminal activities when they were young indicating they are repeat offenders (Dixon & Scheurell, 112). It is important that the families with children are given extra welfare assistance so that the children have a comfortable atmosphere to concentrate in academics and extra-curricular activities like sports.
The childhood development and growth of a child is highly impaired when they grow up in a harsh environment with inadequate food and healthcare. The personality and behavioral traits of an individual are mostly shaped at birth. Dixon & Scheurell further adds that Welfare towards children especially healthcare also increases the infant mortality rates. More children have higher immunity against diseases. Public welfare towards children also aids towards social development. Through involvement with the children the country is made aware of a dysfunction or social need that is contributing to social disorder (Wickenden, 22). The society then works to rectify the problem and this contributes to development. For example with a rise in child truancy the society has to involve itself more with shaping its teenagers. As the nation develops a wealth surplus is created that is used to distribute wealth to the poor families. Furthermore the elderly and the women are freed to contribute to social change. These are people who determine whether social reform can occur or not. When the burden of taking care of relatives and wider family is transferred to the state they are free to participate more on social reform.
Provision of welfare to the public is an avenue through which the government can ensure that the citizens can access basic requirements of like health, education and food. It is therefore imperative that these efforts should be supported by every citizen since they go a long way in helping in alleviating poverty and inequalities in society.
Works Cited:
Azimzadeh, Fred. Welfare in the United States of America. Chicago: McGraw Hill, 2008.
Dixon, John & Scheurell, Robert. The State Of Social Welfare. Westport: Praeger Publishers, 2002
Song, Jillen. American Poverty Reform. Perspectives. Volume 2, No. 6. 2010.
Wickenden, Ellen (2010). Social Welfare Aids to Development. Health guidance. 2011.
Welfare Information. US Welfare System - Help for US Citizens. Welfare Information.
2010.
