The United States welfare system was initiated in early 1930’s in response to the Great Depression. The government had to salvage its citizens from calamities such as poverty, hunger and poor health, by introducing the welfare program. The targeted population was the needy, i.e. those with little or no income at all. Despite the good intentions of the welfare program, some of the citizens really abused it. Some people opted to remain unmarried so as to obtain more benefits from the program. Studies also reveal that some citizens became reluctant in search for jobs, since the government provided what they presumed as almost enough for their daily needs (Aulette, 2010). Furthermore, some married couples went ahead to have many children so as to consequently acquire more aid. Due to the complaints raised by many Americans, there was a need to reform the welfare program.
As a supporter of the American welfare program, I found some interesting facts about the system. Discussed below are three main features of interest.
First is the application procedure. Many reforms were introduced during President Clinton’s regime. Any individual who wanted to benefit from the welfare program had to proof beyond any doubt that he/ she truly deserved help. The policy of welfare program was adjusted to ensure only the needy benefited from financial assistance. A case worker was assigned to investigate and avail relevant information so as to determine the benefits an individual under study was eligible for. The chances of an applicant providing false information was reduced, since it became mandatory that they ( applicants) provide proof of income, Identification, residence among other things (Gensler, 1996).
Second fact of interest is that America has never guaranteed family incomes or universal health insurance. Compared to other European countries with the welfare programs, the American system developed late. This explains the reason why it is less extensive.
The third interesting fact is on the type of assistance. Little did I know that help could take the form of kind-assistance and cash-assistance! From the study of this chapter, I learnt that kind- assistance involved basic aids such as food stamps, whereas cash- assistance involved cash aid, housing assistance among others.
References
Aulette, J. B. (2010). Changing American Families Third Edition. Boston: Allyn & Bacon
Gensler, H. (1996) The American welfare system: origins, structure, and effects; Praeger publishers
Welfare Information retrieved from http://www.welfareinfo.org/, accessed on April 26, 2012.
